logo
The hidden gem location in Italy you can visit to avoid all the crowds - as BA launches new flight route to beauty spot

The hidden gem location in Italy you can visit to avoid all the crowds - as BA launches new flight route to beauty spot

Daily Mail​23-04-2025

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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The 'relaxing' Scottish city hotel you can stay in for better than half price
The 'relaxing' Scottish city hotel you can stay in for better than half price

Daily Record

time27 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

The 'relaxing' Scottish city hotel you can stay in for better than half price

It is housed in a Victorian building that dates back to 1845. A Scottish hotel that has been described as "very enjoyable and relaxing" can now be booked for better than half price. The accommodation is located in the city of Stirling. The Stirling Highland Hotel is a hotel and spa situated in the heart of Stirling, near the historic Stirling Castle. It is housed within a Victorian building that dates back to 1845. At the moment, guests can book a one-night stay for two at the Stirling Highland Hotel at a cost of £145 through Wowcher. Usually, an overnight stay is priced at £298.95—equating to a discount of 51 per cent. Visitors can choose from either a classic double or twin room at the hotel. The Wowcher deal includes a glass of Prosecco each upon arrival, as well as a £25 dining credit per person at its restaurant. The Scholar's Restaurant serves up a mix of Scottish and European cuisine, with its ingredients locally sourced. Its dinner menu includes dishes such as gnocchi primavera, shepherd's pie, and pan roasted sea bass. Guests will also have access to the Stirling Highland Hotel's leisure centre, which includes a pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. Meanwhile, the spa offers a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. Another highlight of the Stirling Highland Hotel is its 130-year-old rooftop observatory. Guests can enjoy tours hosted by the Astronomical Society, and take advantage of rare photo opportunities. Elsewhere, Stirling offers a huge range of things to see and do outside of the hotel. In addition to Stirling Castle, visitors can climb the National Wallace Monument or head to The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum. The Stirling Highland Hotel has mostly received good feedback from guests. On Tripadvisor, the hotel has an overall rating of 3.8 out of five based on 3,483 reviews. One previous guest wrote: "Very enjoyable and relaxing. I was impressed with this hotel. "The staff are friendly, professional, helpful and approachable. The mattress was so comfortable and I slept like a log. "Breakfast was good. Buffet style hot and cold which gives freedom to enjoy at your own pace." However, a less positive two-star review states: "We had a very pleasant stay here a couple of years ago hence our return but wish we hadn't come back. At nearly £500 for two nights feel it was a total waste of money and that we'd have been better off in the travel lodge." Meanwhile, another positive writeup reads: "As a family we enjoyed our stay. The reception staff are a credit to the hotel, possibly the best customer service we have ever received. "The spa facilities were very good. I would recommend a visit to the pool if you stay. "Good location, short walk from castle and shops. Room was warm, comfortable and clean. Had everything we needed for a short stay." If the Stirling Highland Hotel does not appeal, there are many other accommodation options in Stirling. Among these are the Stirling Court Hotel and The Golden Lion Hotel.

Huge holiday hotspot sees big drop in UK tourists after locals 'demonise' them
Huge holiday hotspot sees big drop in UK tourists after locals 'demonise' them

Daily Mirror

time30 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Huge holiday hotspot sees big drop in UK tourists after locals 'demonise' them

Benidorm is one of the biggest winners in Spain of the drop in British holidaymakers choosing Magaluf following the party resort "clean-up", local bar and nightclub chiefs say A Spanish holiday resort once beloved by Brits is seeing its popularity falter amid efforts to tidy up its image. According to Miguel Perez-Marsa, head of the ABONE nightclub association on Majorca, young Brits are shunning Magaluf. The area used to be overrun by UK tourists during the summer but now attracts a more diverse European crowd. Miguel argued that Brits feel "demonized." ‌ French and Italian visitors, who tend to drink less and spend less on nights out, are filling the void left by British revellers. At the same time, British youths, once the mainstay of Magaluf's raucous Punta Ballena strip, have been "steam-rollered" and are now heading to Benidorm and other "more-welcoming" resorts, Miguel said. ‌ While more British families are visiting Magaluf, they're choosing all-inclusive deals, which means they're spending less money outside their hotels, Miguel told Diario de Mallorca. The reputation of Magaluf took a hit following the release of a scandalous sex video in June 2014, involving a British tourist in a bar, which resulted in a year-long closure of the establishment and a concerted effort by local authorities to clean up the resort's image. Magaluf's infamous party strip has been under the spotlight since Majorca's leading politician at the time, Jose Ramon Bauza, slammed Punta Ballena as "500 metres of shame". This came after an 18-year-old girl was tricked into performing sex acts for a supposed free holiday, only to receive a cocktail named 'Holiday'. Fines reaching up to £50,000 were introduced for tourists caught balcony jumping, and alcohol service with meals at all-inclusive hotels in areas like Magaluf was restricted under a regional government decree targeting 'drunken tourism', introduced five years ago. Last year saw even stricter measures, including £1,300 penalties for street drinking and mandatory night-time shutdowns of alcohol-selling shops in parts of Magaluf. ‌ In May 2024 the Mirror's Hollie Bone visited Magaluf and was shocked by the levels of debauchery on display, despite these efforts. "In just one night our reporter was offered cocaine five times and witnessed a stag party buying a huge can of nitrous oxide, known as hippy crack, before using it openly in a bar. And previous visitors have urged those going this year to be careful as thuggish bouncers, incidents of spiking and theft still plague the party town," she wrote. ‌ "During our week in Magaluf we witnessed several blatant breaches of the new laws. We saw members of the stag party buy two one litre bottles of vodka and gin after making an after-hours deal with a takeaway owner at 3am. The same group also bought the nitrous oxide and inhaled balloons of the gas in front of nonchalant bar workers. "Revellers are still enticed into bars by the offers of a free shot with their first drink. For some young Britons a summer season here is still as attractive and exciting as it was eight years ago. One barman from Tottenham, North London, told us he came here in 2016 and has never looked back." During a visit in May last year, Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, called on visitors in the Majorcan hotspot to "show responsibility" and remember they are "guests" in Spain. British holidaymakers form the majority of Benidorm's international visitors. Recent statistics revealed that over two-thirds of the Costa Blanca resort's tourists in May were from overseas, with an encouraging average hotel occupancy rate of 84.7% for the month. This Sunday an anti-mass tourism demonstrators are gearing up for another rally in the Majorcan capital, Palma. The event is orchestrated by activist group Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with a coalition of 60 organisations confirming their participation. Activists from other cities such as Barcelona and San Sebastian are set to join in a series of synchronised protests. A spokesperson for Menys Turisme, Mes Vida declared last week: "We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island."

Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius
Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius

Scroll down to see the best snaps from her photo dump WHOLE LEOTTA LOVE Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DILETTA LEOTTA stripped down to a bikini while on holiday with her husband and former Liverpool star Loris Karius. Diletta, 33, works as a football presenter for DAZN in her native Italy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Diletta Leotta wowed in a figure-hugging bikini Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 She shared several snaps from her holiday Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Diletta is a sports TV presenter Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 The beauty has a whopping nine million followers on Instagram Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta While Karius, 31, is currently between the sticks for German club Schalke. The couple jetted off to Mallorca for a much-needed break following the end of the season. Diletta soaked up the Spanish sun in an array of incredible outfits. She was pictured hopping out the sea in figure-hugging black swimwear. And after drying off, she looked incredible in a pink bikini as she posed with a friend joining them abroad. Diletta also dazzled while stood next to a massive paella on the beach and when at a restaurant in a stylish black dress. Her stunning looks left her nine million Instagram followers in awe, with one saying: "The most beautiful, there is no better." Another added: "Gorgeous girl." A third commented: "You are radiant." Italian beauty Diletta tied the knot with Karius last summer in a luxurious ceremony after two years of dating. They have a daughter Aria, 2, who was seen in the post. Karius was on daddy duties, holding her in a swimming pool that overlooked the picturesque ocean. The German goalkeeper played 49 times for Liverpool between 2016 and 2018. Dilleta returned from her holiday in time to attend yesterday's French Open men's final, stunning in a bold white dress. 9 Diletta looked in love with a huge paella Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Her daughter Aria joined her at the beach Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Her husband is ex-Liverpool keeper Loris Karius Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 9 Diletta Leotta shares stunning bikini snaps as she holidays with ex-Liverpool star husband Loris Karius Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store