The hidden gem location in Italy you can visit to avoid all the crowds - as BA launches new flight route to beauty spot
British Airways is launching new flights to a gorgeous Italian region known as the country's quiet alternative to Tuscany.
The flag carrier will offer flights to Rimini, a seaside resort in the Emilia-Romagna region, three times per week.
Flights will depart from London Heathrow on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with the first leaving on May 15.
BA has said the flights will operate throughout the summer season until September 27 with prices starting from £131.
The airline describes Rimini as 'an old city full of charm' that's 'known for sandy beaches and the Adriatic sea'.
It adds: 'Those in search of beach holidays can enjoy more than 15km of beach along the seafront, while night owls can soak up the city's vibrant nightlife.'
When it comes to history, BA recommends visiting the Arch of Augustus, built in around 27BC, and the Tiberius Bridge, which dates back to the first century AD.
Children will love Rimini's 'Italia in Miniatura' theme park which has 273 miniature models of Italian monuments.
Tourists will also have access to the wider Emilia-Romagna region, which Rough Guides has described as 'Tuscany without the crowds'.
Holidaymakers can reach Bologna, known as Italy's food capital, by train in around an hour.
And if you're looking for a real adventure, you can even tick another country off your bucket list on a trip to Rimini.
San Marino, a microstate that sits within northern Italy, is just a 28 minute drive from Rimini.
Top sites in San Marino include the Palazzo Pubblico, the country's official seat of government, and the Torre Cesta, a castle that dates back to the 13th century.
Neil Chernoff, BA's chief Planning and Strategy officer, said: 'Italy continues to prove hugely popular with our customers, which is why it's our biggest European destination and second globally behind the US.
'Last month, we saw a 10 per cent increase in searches for summer flights to Italy compared to 2023, so we're pleased to be an offering an even bigger choice of destinations.'
And Rimini isn't the only destination that's becoming easier to reach.
Brits can also take advantage of new direct flights to Djerba, a Mediterranean island off the coast of Tunisia.
easyJet has launched flights to the dreamy island from both London Luton and Manchester airports.
Cape Verde has also become easier to reach with both TUI and easyJet launching new flights to the African hotspot.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
30 minutes ago
- Daily Record
British man living in Benidorm lists parts of life he 'massively hates'
A Brit who has lived in Benidorm has shared the things he hates about the popular holiday destination - and tourists will benefit from knowing about them too Last year, Benidorm saw a whopping 600,000 Brits descend on its white isles – and it's not hard to see why. Reliably good weather, a short flight and vibrant nightlife is such a strong draw that recent figures show that close to a third of visitors to Benidorm are from the United Kingdom. Benidorm is so dominated by Brits, in fact, that it's now packed with home comforts, from British pubs to full English breakfasts and broadcasting of British sports on outdoor screens. Yet, one British expat has highlighted some significant drawbacks to life in the sunny Spanish resort, sharing his gripes in a recent video. Harry Poulton, who offers travel insights and advice to his 40,000 TikTok followers under the handle @harrytokky, didn't hold back in expressing his frustrations. In his latest post, he vents about the aspects of Benidorm that he can't stand - and all of them are handy for tourists to be aware of. The influencer kicks off his rant with: "The fake alcohol drinks on Benidorm beach. Massive hate. You're going to get these people come up to you and try to sell you dodgy alcoholic drinks, and you have no idea where they're being made." He warns: "You don't even know what they're actually putting in these supposed alcoholic cocktails. Absolutely avoid them." Poulton then moves on to take down the infamous "pea-men's scam games" found along the beaches. Explaining the con, he remarks: "These [people] do dodgy games on Benidorm beach, trying to scam you out of your own hard-earned money. Horrible." He also cautions that these scammers often work with pickpockets who take advantage of distracted tourists to steal their belongings. Lastly, he touches on the notorious 'Muggers Alley', particularly criticising the women who are said to linger there hoping to rob tourists. Harry launched into a scathing rant, saying: "They are absolutely dreadful. They are ladies of the night, thieves, and are just crooks. They're going to try and rob you, take your phone. You name it, they're going to steal it." His comments sparked a wave of agreement, with one person sharing a similar experience, saying: "I was in Benidorm last week and they started following me and my family, so we stopped at a shop and they passed." Another claimed to have seen the cocktail vendors "stir them with their fingers" before hiding the "bottle in the bushes". One critic questioned: "Unbelievable! Why do people keep going?". However, the allure of Benidorm remains strong, with pints available for under £1, affordable food, and a party lifestyle - it's little wonder that revellers continue to flock to this Spanish hotspot.
Time Out
32 minutes ago
- Time Out
It's good, but it'll send your arteries straight to hell
Going for dinner at a hotel is A Very American Thing To Do. Most Brits will only eat at a hotel if they are actually staying there and can't be arsed to leave the building in order to get fed. It's fitting then, that the NoMad's newly revamped in-house restaurant is a high-octane tribute to the big, ballsy American brasserie. Previously known as the slightly more descriptive 'Atrium', the roomy, well, hotel atrium's rebrand as Twenty8 NoMad also reeks of flashy New York, utilising the kind of chaotic jumble of letters and numbers that brings to mind Manhattan staples Bungalow 8 and Eleven Madison Park. It's brash, even grating, but we'll give it a pass, as it fits the aesthetic bang on, which is all Manhattan-by-way-of-the-Marais, an extravagant Yank take on the French brassiere, complete with excessively high ceilings, balustrades and balconies. 'Intimate' it is not, but cosy is overrated, and we're struggling to think of anywhere else in London that seems at once like peak Studio 54 and the ideal date spot for Romeo and Juliet. Into this truly special space steps a lavish 'raw bar', supersized-steak frites and an entire menu devoted to the martini. Our dirty vodka offering comes with a whole second helping, courtesy of a sidecar on ice, as well as three blue-cheese stuffed olives. It's the first in a carnival of oversized (read: American) offerings. A starter of crispy artichokes, which, though deep fried, are surprisingly light, and also very big boys. It's easy to see why our prawn cocktail doesn't arrive in a bowl; it's their sheer size. Veritable baby arms of seafood (even with the heads taken off), and served with a pot of humming horseradish cocktail sauce. Then comes a bowl of mussels (all of them fastidiously turned face up), in a creamy green curry sauce accessorised with bubbly, burnished roti. It might seem inconspicuous on a menu dedicated to brassiere classics, but it works through sheer dint of its deliciousness - and yes, they also seem larger than your average bivalve. Mains too are mighty, and a glossy lobster pasta is almost demonic in its execution. Using what we can only assume is an entire block of butter, a hearty grind of black pepper, smattering of chives and huge lumps of lurid lobster, the chef has created a dish worthy of beelzebub's own dinner party. It's good, but it'll send your arteries straight to hell, is what we're saying. Did we have room for dessert? Did we heck. A minty grasshopper cocktail stood in for an actual pudding, and, in true bountiful American style, we were packed off with a small box of chocolate bon-bons. Bigger isn't always better, but it certainly seems to be when you're at Twenty8 NoMad. The vibe A very good-looking hotel restaurant. The food Epic portions of French/American bistro classics. The drink There's a whole martini menu as well as classic cocktails and high-end, high-price wine. Time Out tip Far be it from us to intentionally undercut a restaurant, but the starters here are sizable. If there's two of you, it wouldn't be out of the question to order one each and then a main to share along with a side.
Time Out Dubai
an hour ago
- Time Out Dubai
8 (really nice) places in Dubai to go to between 5pm and 7pm for drinks and bites
So, you've finished work for the day and have some time to kill? With the summer season almost in swing and life slowing down a little bit, it's quite tempting to meet up with friends for after work drinks and nibbles. In Paris, they've got this concept called 'cinq à sept' – five to seven. It's when you've finished work for the day and the sun is starting to set, so you've got a golden window of opportunity where you can boost your mood after a day at work. Typically, people here use this time to commute, to run errands or to stick around in the office. But if you decide to do it like the French do, you can use this time to brighten up your day with a little tipple at a really nice restaurant bar. With that in mind, here's a list of our favourite fancy after-work spots. Eugène Eugène After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Eugène Eugène. Available daily from 4pm to 7pm, you can take advantage of the L'Apéritif d'Eugène, a French-inspired offering, where for Dhs110 per person, you'll get a curated selection of two mixed drinks or mocktails, complemented by the chef's assortment of gourmet appetizers. Definitely the place to be for evening drinks. Dhs110. Daily from 4pm-7pm. Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha (04 379 8963). Isola After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Isola. Looking for a picturesque sundowner spot to unwind? The menu there has a selection of creative mixed drinks and cicchetti bites you can order. Thu 5pm-8pm. Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse, Jumeirah Islands (04 583 3124). La Petite Maison Restaurant & Bar After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: La Petite Maison Restaurant & Bar. LPM Restaurant & Bar is doing exactly what the Parisians do with its Cinq à Sept bar programme. Here, between 5pm and 7pm, you can choose from a selection of beverages with glasses of grape each priced at Dhs44 and mixed drinks at Dhs48. Then you can pick one complimentary bar bite from a pretty stellar selection of small dishes, including smoked burrata dip with crispy zucchini flower, crudités and beef cecina. The best part is you can walk in without having to make a booking. Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm. Gate Village, DIFC (04 439 0505). Tapasake After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Tapasake. Embrace sunset vibes at Tapasake on weekdays from 5 pm to 8pm at the Terrace Bar and Pool Bar. There will be a special Japanese Nikkei offering with beverages and tapas. With drinks starting from Dhs55 per person for a glass of Italian sparkling, Dhs56 for a glass of pink grape and Dhs50 for a glass of draught hops at the pool bar, you can sip in style for less. Sun-Thu, 5pm-8pm. One&Only One Za'abeel, Trade Centre Area (04 666 1617). Onda by Pierchic After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Pierchic Wander up the pier at Jumeirah Al Qasr for a sunset drink and you'll have some pretty magnificent views of the Arabian Gulf and Burj Al Arab. The bar is open to everyone, whether you're dining at end-of-the-pier Italian restaurant Pierchic, or just in the mood for a bit of sea air with your drinks. Either way, if you're after pre-dinner drinks with your date, or on the hunt for a spot to unwind as the sun sets, this open-air deck suspended above the water should be your next go-to. Sun-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr (800 323 232). Sucre After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Sucre Sucre also has a special aperitivo menu available from Monday to Friday between 4pm and 8pm. Here you can choose from a selection of mixed drinks, hops and grape for Dhs38. Each drink on the menu comes with a paired bar bite. These include stuffed olives, anchovy bruschetta, pickled pepper croquettes with goose ham and burrata fig bruschetta. From Dhs38. Mon-Fri 4pm-8pm. Gate Village, DIFC (04 340 0829). Tagomago After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Tagomago Head to Tagomago right after work and you'll catch the quiet period before people start arriving for dinner. There's no better place to enjoy the sunset on Palm Jumeirah. The Balearic-inspired beachfront restaurant features a fully Spanish menu, several bars and stunning interiors. We prefer to sit at the bar right at the back overlooking the Arabian Sea and Burj Al Arab at a distance. Order a Spanish pitcher and a small bowl of blood orange-stuffed Spanish olives as a snack and you definitely won't regret it. Daily 10am-1am. Azure Residence, The Palm Jumeirah (04 832 6620). Uchi After work drinks in Dubai. Credit: Uchi. A DIFC dweller? Grab your friends and head to this little Japanese eatery and take advantage of Uchi's 'power hour' between 5pm and 7pm. Here, you can choose from a premium selection of Japanese beverages as well as fine grape and hops. Take advantage of a 15 percent discount between 5pm and 7pm every weekday. Or take the experience up a notch by pairing your drink with a selection of small bites. Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm. Gate Village, DIFC (04 298 5044). Need a reservation in the meantime? New restaurants in Dubai that you need to visit right now From casual eats to fine dining, there's bound to be a new venue you'll want to try 86 best restaurants in Dubai, as tested by us Tried and tested by us 25 of the best restaurants in DIFC: Reservations you have to make now Tried, tested and highly rated restaurants to try in Dubai's financial district
