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Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations

Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations

The Irish Sun21 hours ago

WITH expensive costs and overcrowded attractions, thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for more affordable destinations in Africa.
Recent research by TUI has seen a boom in demand for North African
holidays
.
3
North Africa is becoming a much popular destination with Brits
Credit: Alamy
3
Morocco has reported record tourist numbers
Credit: Alamy
Morocco
,
Egypt
and
TUI's UK commercial director Chris Logan said that the reason for the demand was not because of the "fantastic value for
money
" compared to pricier places in
Europe
.
He told PA: "There's good quality accommodation and great
weather
beyond the traditional
summer
season.
"Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel."
Read more on Africa
And according to aviation analysts Cirium, nearly 20,000 flights are set to fly from
London
to North African destinations.
This is up from around 8,600 back in 2019.
Some of TUI's new routes include Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from
Holidays are extremely cheaply too - we found deals under £300 each when four-star
hotels
in
Most read in News Travel
This demand has also been backed by Booking.com who said they had seen an increase in searches for summer holidays to Tunisia by 64 per cent compared to last year.
Searches for
Inside luxury camping bivouac under the dunes in Morocco's Sahara desert
Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as
Spain
,
France
and Italy.
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel said north Africa was "a region to watch over the
next
few years".
Other new Africa flights from the UK include easyJet's first route to Cape Verde from
London Gatwick
as well as flights to the
And
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning".
She went on: "Ongoing
cost of living
pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money.
"This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts."
The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor recently visited
Our Head of Travel (Print)
And our
3
Flights have also boomed - up 20,000 from 8,600 in five years
Credit: Alamy

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New mega £2.7billion airport reveals 24-hour terminal that will ‘rival London's Heathrow' with UK flights
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  • The Irish Sun

New mega £2.7billion airport reveals 24-hour terminal that will ‘rival London's Heathrow' with UK flights

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The Sun travels to three cheapest Ryanair destinations this month – but which one was REALLY the best value overall?
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The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

The Sun travels to three cheapest Ryanair destinations this month – but which one was REALLY the best value overall?

FOR a cheap jaunt to Europe, Ryanair is first in line for a bargain break - with flights sometimes as low as £11 each way. But what if low-priced flights sometimes end up costing you more, arriving at the destination only to spend a fortune on food and activities when you're there? 14 Ryanair flights are cheap but what is the best budget destination? Credit: Getty The three cheapest places you can fly to on Ryanair this month are Milan, We asked three The Sun writers to spend the day exploring each city to find out how much the entire trip costs once you've bagged the bargain flight. From cheap pizza to £5 pints, the results are in - and you may be surprised to find out which break was best for your budget... Milan, Italy 14 Sun writer Bex April May says Milan can be easily explored on a budget Credit: Bex April May 14 Bex was able to get return flights to the stunning city for just £30 Credit: Getty Bex April May flew to Milan Bergamo from London Stansted for £30 return. Milan may be a designer capital of the world, and while it may have its fair share of daft designer prices, you can have a fantastic time I travel here at least once a month, and as editor of Forget splashing £20 on a sad sandwich by the Duomo - Milan's tastiest food is hiding in plain sight. Our first stop is Panzerotti Luini (Via Santa Radegonda), a hole-in-the-wall spot just behind the cathedral, famous for its deep-fried pockets of cheesy heaven. A piping hot, freshly made panzerotto will set you back just £2 - though you'll probably want to return for even more. The stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II), right beside the Duomo is a I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds But, instead of wandering into the upscale restaurants by its entrance, take the lift up to the sixth floor and head to Their £10 aperitivo deal gets you a drink, and a huge Italian tagliere (meat and cheese board) for each person. It's the best bargain rooftop terrace in Milan. You can't go to Italy and An espresso at an everyday cafe in Milan will generally only set you back £1 - while a glass of wine or beer is around £4. If you are after a cheap tipple, historic standing bar, Cantine Isola (Via Paolo Sarpi), a century‑old staple in Chinatown - serves up even cheaper wine by the glass, at around £2-£3, with buzzy, if not slightly chaotic vibes. 14 Rooftop bars can offer a great view of the city and there are hidden gems to be found, says Bex Credit: Alamy 14 Food is cheap in the city with fresh pasta and pizza for as little as £8 Credit: Alamy No trip to Italy is complete without an Aperol Spritz in the sun so I took a stroll along the Navigli canals, where rows of buzzing outdoor cafés line the water. Stop at Spritz Naivligi (Ripa di Porta) where you can sip a cocktail and tuck into a generous sweet and savoury aperitivo buffet as part of their evening Happy Hour - all for just £9. Believe it or not, dinner is the biggest bargain in Milan. A delicious bowl of fresh pasta, such as a Rigatoni alla Norma, starts at £8 from fab people-watching spot That's your evening sorted, Italian-style. Best of all, some of the most beautiful things to do in Milan are totally free. Wander the canals of Navigli. Take in the majesty of the Duomo and the golden Madonna on top and chill out in the city's beautiful Parco Sempione, behind Sforzesco Castle - all without spending a penny. Milan might be stylish, but if you know where to go, you can enjoy Primark prices in a Prada World. Milan's cheap checklist: Getting from the airport: A bus from the airport to the centre of Milan is £10 each way Lunch: £4.25 Cup of coffee: £1 Glass of Beer: £4 Dinner with wine: £12 Best free activity: A stroll through Navigli TOTAL: £41.25 Belfast, Northern Ireland 14 Eimear is from Belfast and shares a few of her favourite places Credit: Eimear O'Hagan 14 Belfast has an incredible history, especially along the river Credit: Getty Eimear O'Hagen flew from Edinburgh, Scotland to Belfast, Northern Ireland for £31 return . I may have lived away from Whenever I get the chance to get back there for a visit, I grab it, so I've almost become a 'local' expert again. Whether it's visiting my old haunts or discovering new ones, Belfast always delivers. I love that it's now a buzzing destination and perfect for a city break. As it's grown in popularity, so has the perception that Belfast must be an expensive place to visit. However, if you know where to go, parts of the city still offer a great time on a budget. Getting from the airport is easy, and since it was the weekend, we headed straight to St George's Market. 14 St George's Market is a great place to get cheap eats at the weekend Credit: Alamy 14 The Botanic Gardens is free to explore Credit: Alamy This place really showcases the personality of the city with live music, food and craft stalls to peruse, and a buzzy, friendly atmosphere. As well as being a cool and colourful spot, St George's Market is a historic building that has been home to a market at weekends since 1604. Better still, lunch is sorted with huge potato bowls from one of the stalls, A generous portion of patatas bravas is topped with a chorizo skewer and pork belly bites for only £11. However, if it's your first time to Belfast, it's almost compulsory to try the Ulster Fry at The all-day 'Bumper Fry' will only set you back £11 and is a proper Irish breakfast/brunch that will keep you going for hours. After a good feed, we headed off to explore Belfast on foot, which is the best way to see it. If you just want to go for a wander and see if a particular bar or restaurant takes your fancy, the Ormeau Road and Botanic area as well as the Andersonstown and Falls Roads often offer a cheaper alternative to the more touristy city centre and Cathedral Quarter. 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I love living in the UK and being able to explore Europe so cheaply and easily. But, if you don't do your research, a cheap flight can lure you in and end up costing you a fortune in food, drink and accommodation. Gdansk, Poland, is definitely not one of those places. Flights to Gdansk on Ryanair are always cheap and the city is beautiful, easy to explore, and inexpensive. If you've never been, it's the 14 I start off with a walk through Gdansk Old Town and along the historic Mariacka Street, which is one of the oldest streets in the city. You'll be surprised by the architecture, which looks more like a fairytale village in Scandinavia than a Polish city. Along Mariacka street, there are lots of cafes and bars, so I stop off a Cafe Kamienica for a £1 coffee on the sunny balcony. From here, it's a short walk to the Waterside Area which is lined with bars and restaurants but you'll pay extra for the sprawling patios and the river views. 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By now, it was time for a drink. Beer and wine in Poland is typically cheap and surprisingly good. Pull up a stool at Red Light in Chlebniczka, hidden on a backstreet between Piwna and Dlugaand, and sample the local bottled beer. Usually packed with locals, this kooky bar has a great atmosphere with a small dancefloor in the basement and a mismatch of seating upstairs. They also sell coffee if you're not ready to booze. 14 Helen and her daughter, Isobel, explored Gdansk on foot Credit: Helen Wright 14 Neptune's Fountain is one of Gdansk's most famous monuments Credit: Alamy Despite being a small city, there is something around every corner here. A look at the beautiful Neptune's Fountain is a must since it's one of the most distinctive landmarks of the city. The fountain is located at the Długi Targ, in front of the entrance to the Artus Court. This area is usually buzzing with people, buskers and street performers. My top spot for dinner is It's a fantastic place to sit and people watch, too. Dinner was a bargain with three courses, a glass of Prosecco or a cocktail for only £20. The food is beautifully presented and definitely feels fancier than the prices suggest. A meal here is half the price of the tourist traps along the river, but it's only five minutes away so you can walk it all off by the water, which is beautifully illuminated and looks stunning after-dark. Gdansk Cheap Checklist Public bus to Gdansk £1.40 or taxi is £15 each way (20 mins) Lunch: £8 Cup of coffee: £1 Glass of Beer: £3 Dinner and a drink: £20 Best free activity: A stroll along the waterfront TOTAL: £67 So if you're after a cheap getaway in Europe this summer, a flight to Milan to enjoy Aperol Spritz and a fresh plate of delicious pasta is certainly a good idea.

Warning to anyone towing a caravan this summer over ‘illegal' mistake that could land you with £1,000 fine
Warning to anyone towing a caravan this summer over ‘illegal' mistake that could land you with £1,000 fine

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Warning to anyone towing a caravan this summer over ‘illegal' mistake that could land you with £1,000 fine

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