Win an eight-night luxury ocean cruise for two with Explora Journeys worth £13,000
This fantastic prize gives you and a guest the flexibility to choose your own eight-night itinerary on board either Explora I, Explora II or Explora III (launching in summer 2026), subject to availability. Perhaps you've always wanted to see the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean? Then you can opt for a Puerto Rico to Miami sailing where you'll get to spot both the cerulean lagoons of Tortola and the sandy shores of Antigua. Or maybe you've always talked about going on a Greek island-hopping adventure? You'll want to choose an Athens to Venice sailing that takes in underrated Paros and history-filled Rhodes before making a beeline for Corfu and its remarkable views. Or is a fabulous fjord expedition calling your name? You can sail from Southampton to Copenhagen, marvelling at Olden's fjords and Bergen's seafood along the way. The list goes on . . .
Whichever you choose, you'll stay in an Ocean Terrace Suite, meaning stellar views at all times, on an all-inclusive basis, and enjoy champagne on arrival. The trip must be booked within 12 months of the winner being announced, and excludes Monaco GP journeys, journeys over Christmas, and Thanksgiving. Excursions and spa treatments are extra.
For more information, click here.
For your chance to win, simply vote in each category in this year's Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. There are 17 categories in total.
Click here to vote.
For the full list of prizes, see here.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. Prize is a voucher valid for an 8 (eight) night stay for two on board EXPLORA I, EXPLORA II OR EXPLORA III (launching in summer 2026) and return economy flights from the UK to Europe only, and return economy class transfers (from the destination airport directly to the port). Prize is valid for travel within 12 months from the end of the Promotion Period, and blackout dates apply including Monaco GP journeys, journeys over Christmas and Thanksgiving. Winner and his/her guest(s) must travel on same itinerary. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with same booking. Winner and his/her guest(s) are solely responsible for ensuring they are available to travel and have a full valid passport (with validity for six months or more beyond the date of travel), obtaining adequate travel insurance and appropriate vaccinations/inoculations for foreign travel at their own expense. Cancellation is allowed until 90 days before the journey. Within 90 days, cancellation will cause the loss of Prize voucher validity. 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 Explora Journeys terms and conditions. Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at newsprivacy.co.uk and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd. Full T&Cs apply — see thetimes.com/traveltermsandconditions.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
I get a very severe pain at the bottom of my spine every time I have sex, I'm 76 – help!
SCHOOLS are out and the summer holidays are upon us. If you're lucky enough to be escaping for a break abroad, there are important precautions to take to stay healthy and enjoy your trip without any hiccups. 2 As well as being aware of sun safety and staying hydrated, do also note other travel risks. Make sure you are up to date with any vaccinations you might need, and check any restrictions on bringing prescription medication, including weight- loss injections, into your destination country. Take steps to avoid insect bites and animal scratches, and stock up on mozzie spray and remedies to relieve pain from bites. To avoid traveller's diarrhoea and food-borne illnesses, opt for well cooked, hot food and be cautious of raw fruits and vegetables. Get travel insurance covering you for medical care and any planned activities while away. With all those bases covered, have a wonderful time. Meanwhile, here's what readers asked this week . . . Worry pains straight after sex Q: I DAREN'T see a doctor, but after sex and ejaculation, I get a severe pain at the bottom of my spine which lasts for a minute or so. I have had it for a couple of years now. I am 76 and quite healthy. A: Thank you for sharing – it's understandable to feel hesitant, but you're not alone in having unusual or concerning symptoms like this, especially later in life. I'm a sexual health expert and here's the 5 reasons sex can be painful (and when to see your doctor) What you're describing deserves to be taken seriously, and you should consider seeing a doctor, even if it's a bit uncomfortable to bring up. At 76, even with generally good health, several conditions could cause pain in that area after ejaculation. Top of the list would be prostatitis or other prostate issues. The prostate gland plays a big role in ejaculation, so if there is inflammation or enlargement of the gland (which is very common in older men), this could cause referred pain to the lower back or perineum (the area between the scrotum and anus). The pelvic floor muscles also contract during orgasm, and they attach to the lower spine and tailbone, so tightness or dysfunction of these muscles could cause sharp pain associated with ejaculation. A spinal disc issue such as mild degeneration or a herniated disc could be irritated by it, too. I also want to mention coccygodynia – the medical term for tailbone pain. People who have this often report it being made worse by sitting, bowel movements or activities that involve pelvic pressure, such as ejaculation. Less commonly, things such as bladder issues, bowel problems or referred pain from vascular issues could be triggered by ejaculation. You should not ignore this pain, even if everything else seems fine. It might be nothing serious, but some possible causes, like prostate disease, should be investigated further. So please do book to see your GP. Ask for a male doctor or nurse if it helps – and remember that this is a normal topic for healthcare professionals. SKIN SORES WON'T HEAL Q: I'M a 58-year-old lady with sores under both breasts. I have been given fungal and bacterial antibiotics, plus a cream, to no avail. I can't get a GP's appointment. I have been to a walk-in clinic and was advised I need to see a dermatologist. It looks like I have been burned and it smells, too. I rarely wear a bra these days, but really need to as I am a 38H. My self-esteem is on the floor. I would be grateful for any advice. A: It sounds like a skin condition called intertrigo, which tends to affect the flexures of the body where there is skin in contact with another area of skin – under the breasts, armpits, groin and below the tummy if the skin hangs. Intertrigo is characterised by a rash that looks wet, soft and glistening, with scaling on the edges. It can itch, burn and sting. Diabetes, smoking and excessive alcohol may all make it more likely, and it can be made worse by hot and humid weather. In your case, due to the smell, it sounds like it may be complicated by secondary infection – bacterial and/or fungal – and there may be some skin breakdown due to friction, moisture and warmth. Daktacort cream is recommended as a first-line treatment because it can treat the most common fungal infection, candida, and help reduce inflammation as it contains a mild steroid. It's available over the counter, no prescription. Short-term use of Trimovate cream can also be considered. Oral antibiotics or oral antifungal therapy may be needed and should be guided by results of skin swabs. If you can send an e-consult to your GP, you can easily do the swabs yourself – then your practice can send them off to the lab. Meanwhile, gently clean the folds once or twice a day with lukewarm water and a very mild soap, then pat dry – do not rub – and consider using a hairdryer on a cool setting to dry the area. Use a zinc oxide-based cream such as Sudocrem, Metanium or Bepanthen to create a barrier over raw areas and reduce friction. Even though bras feel uncomfy, not wearing one can cause further friction and sagging, worsening the condition. If you can, try a cotton, wireless, breathable support bra or even a sleep bra just to lift the skin off itself gently. If that's not possible, use a soft, cotton cloth or medical-grade intertrigo pads between the fold to keep skin separated and dry. Some people use cotton bra liners or folded gauze. SWOLLEN ANKLES AFTER STROKE Q: MY mum had a stroke in June last year. Her ankles are swollen and she is taking medication for her blood pressure. She walks to work and back home. What can she do to reduce her BP? Could it be the medication that is making her legs swell? 2 A: I'm really sorry to hear about your mum's stroke. You're doing the right thing by paying close attention to her health and asking questions. Swollen ankles (also called peripheral oedema) can be caused by many factors, especially after a stroke. Firstly, what medication does she take? Some common blood pressure drugs called calcium channel blockers (such as amlodipine or nifedipine) are a well-known cause of ankle swelling. Other medications, like beta-blockers or diuretics, can also cause fluid shifts or retention. After a stroke, blood and lymph flow in the legs can be impaired if there has been a period of reduced activity. You say that she is walking now, which is fantastic and really helpful. But is she walking as far and as fast as before? More is better. It's also good to have regular breaks and elevate the legs if possible, and consider using compression stockings. These measures can help with venous insufficiency, where blood pools in the lower legs because the valves in the veins don't work at pumping blood back up to the heart. This is common in older adults and those who sit or stand a lot during the day, and it tends to be better first thing in the morning after being laid flat all night. It's the most common cause of peripheral oedema, but it's also important for the less common causes to be considered. If either leg is red, swollen and tender, then a deep vein thrombosis has to be ruled out urgently. Any signs of infection should be assessed. And, finally, it's important for your mum to have her heart checked for heart failure. If the heart's pumping ability is reduced, this can also cause swelling. Her GP can do a simple blood test called a pro-BNP and, if necessary, an ECG, too. She may have already had these in recent months if she's been seen by her hospital team.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in boost to right-wing ally
The United States and Argentina on Monday announced that they are working on a plan to allow Argentine tourists to again travel to the U.S. without a visa. It will likely take two to three years before visa-free travel becomes a reality for Argentine passport holders, but the Trump administration's move to kickstart the process marked a show of support for President Javier Milei, its staunchest ally in South America and a darling of conservatives around the world. The gesture coincided with a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires for closed-door meetings with Milei and his officials. Noem signed the statement of intent alongside Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in Milei's office. The Department of Homeland Security praised Milei for reshaping Argentina's foreign policy in line with the U.S. 'Under President Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States — more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations,' the statement quoted Noem as saying. This first step toward Argentina's entry into the Visa Waiver Program, it added, 'highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats." The department cited Argentina as having the lowest visa overstay rate in the U.S. of any Latin American country. Trump's loyal ally in South America The removal of rigorous U.S. visa requirements — particularly at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is tightening restrictions for foreign nationals — would offer a symbolic victory to Milei, a self-described 'anarcho-capitalist' who rose to power as a far-right outsider mimicking Trump's war-on-woke rhetoric and skillful use of social media. When he became the first world leader to visit Trump after the U.S. election, Milei pranced around Mar-a-Lago like an excited school boy. At the Conservative Political Action Committee convention in Washington last February, he gifted billionaire Elon Musk a bureaucracy-slashing chainsaw to support his DOGE campaign to eliminate government waste. When not riding the far-right, pro-Trump speaking circuit, Milei is focused on straightening out South America's second-largest economy after years of turmoil under left-wing populist rule. Through tough budget cuts and mass layoffs, Milei has succeeded in driving down Argentina's notorious double-digit inflation. The last time Argentines didn't require a visa to enter the U.S. was in the 1990s under another free-market devotee, the late former President Carlos Menem. Menem's neo-liberal reforms and pegging of the peso 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar destroyed Argentina's industry, exacerbating poverty in what a century ago was one of the world's wealthiest countries. In the crisis that followed, the U.S. reimposed visa restrictions in 2002 as young Argentines seeking to flee misery lined up at European embassies and began to migrate illegally to the U.S. The Argentine presidency described Monday's preliminary agreement as 'a clear demonstration of the excellent relationship' between Milei and Trump. 'This bilateral link is not limited to the commercial or economic sphere, but constitutes a strategic and comprehensive relationship based on a shared vision,' the presidency added. Noem, who grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota, later Monday toured a military base on horseback and enjoyed asado — Argentina's traditional meat-centric barbecue and national passion. She is the third member of Trump's Cabinet to meet Milei in Buenos Aires so far this year, after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Tough limits on travel to Trump's America Over 40 mostly European and wealthy Asian countries belong to the exclusive club that allows their citizens to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to three months. However, border officers have the power to turn anyone away. About 20 million tourists use the program each year. Currently, Chile is the only Latin American country in the program. Overseas travel to the U.S. plunged in the early days of Trump's return to the White House as tourists, especially from Latin America, feared being caught in the administration's border crackdown. Some canceled travel plans to protest his foreign policy and anti-immigrant rhetoric. But those numbers began to rebound in April, with more than 3 million international arrivals — 8% more than a year ago — from countries other than Mexico or Canada, according to the International Trade Administration, an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition to clamping down on the southern border, Trump has put up additional obstacles for students, tourists and others looking to travel to the U.S. His recently passed 'big, beautiful' bill of domestic priorities calls for the enactment of a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 to be charged in addition to the cost of the visa itself. Travel industry executives have expressed concern that the charge could drive away tourists who contribute more than $2 trillion annually and 9 million jobs to the U.S. economy, according to the International Trade Administration. About a quarter of all travelers to the U.S. come from Latin America and the Caribbean, the agency says. Arrivals from Argentina have jumped 25% this year — a bigger increase than from any other country. ___ Goodman reported from Medellin, Colombia. ____
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
Disabled holidaymakers ‘stay in UK to avoid hotels and airports'
Almost two thirds of families with a disabled member are not travelling abroad this summer over fears that hotels, airlines and airports will fail to cater to their needs, new research has found. A survey of more than 1,000 people who were either disabled themselves or had someone with a disability in their family, found that 64 per cent said they may not travel abroad this summer. The survey was carried out earlier this month by the polling company Savanta. • 'Rights for disabled travellers don't exist in the air' One of the major issues that emerged from the research was the struggle disabled people face when attempting to book hotels. Of those surveyed, 58 per cent said the main reason for not going on a foreign holiday was because rooms with accessible facilities were too expensive. More than half of respondents — 52 per cent — said that even finding a hotel with adequate accessibility provisions in the first place was a challenge. A further 54 per cent said they did not believe that hotels were properly equipped for disabled people. Furthermore, 47 per cent said they had avoided staying in a hotel over the past 12 months because of accessibility concerns. Booking flights was another issue, with 40 per cent of those surveyed saying that they had avoided flying over the past year because of accessibility worries and 56 per cent reporting that airlines were not well equipped to support disabled passengers. A further 58 per cent agreed that international airports were not equipped to meet disabled travellers' needs. Another problem that emerged from the data was the long delays which families with disabled members faced at airports. Some 51 per cent of the respondents cited this as their main concern when travelling abroad. Transreport, a technology company focused on improving access for disabled people within the travel and hospitality industries, commissioned the survey. A white paper on aviation published by the company in April found that 48 per cent of disabled passengers had to wait for over 30 minutes when disembarking from an aircraft, and 17 per cent said they waited for over an hour. In December, a Scottish family from Edinburgh said they had been told how they were left stranded in the Austrian capital Vienna, when a Ryanair flight left without them. Katie Brown, 25, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, told the BBC that she and her family were escorted by the airport's assistance staff to the boarding gate. But she said that the airline staff failed to show up and they were told that their flight had been cancelled. They later learned the flight had taken off without them. Ryanair said that airport staff were responsible for special assistance and that Brown and her family had been brought to the gate too late. Jay Shen, the chief executive of Transreport, said the survey results underlined the 'real-world challenges' disabled people face when they travel. He said: 'Action across the board is needed to drive lasting, meaningful change and ensure that everyone is able to travel safely and confidently no matter their destination.' Fazilet Hadi, the head of policy at Disability Rights UK, commented: 'Unfortunately, it's therefore not surprising that for the majority of disabled people, going on holiday poses a wide range of accessibility challenges. 'UK travel companies need to increase options for accessible holiday accommodation. Airlines operating from the UK need to improve their own passenger assistance services and influence better practice in the airports they fly to.' Emma Vogelmann, from the charity Transport for All, said: 'Most of us look forward to the fun of summer holidays, but as disabled people we find they're blighted by inaccessibility. 'We face booking systems we can't use, missing information about whether we can access things, and the risk of airlines breaking or losing vital equipment or leaving us stranded. The weight of extra cost, barriers, and worries can ruin our enjoyment or stop us travelling at all. 'Thirty years on from the original Equality Act, it's time that the travel industry stepped up to their accessibility responsibilities, so that all of us can enjoy a holiday this year.'
