Best affordable family resorts in Europe: from Crete to South Tyrol
For kids aged five to 11 – and their parents – this resort on the sun-warmed north-eastern corner of Corfu is a dreamland. A free 'Beach Life' programme on select weeks in July and August provide little ones with a rigorous activity schedule of craft sessions, water games and treasure hunts, while parents kick back and soak up the Ionian blues from curvaceous Avlaki beach. Come evening you can wander to a nearby taverna to feast on Greek classics like saganaki and spanakopita, then later when little ones are tucked in bed you and your other half can sip nightcaps on your bedroom terrace, barely more than a souvlaki's toss from the cerulean surf.
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Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Landlocked city home to one of Europe's warmest beaches hotter than Tenerife
Córdoba in central southern Spain has one of the warmest beaches in Europe. Valdearenas Beach sits on the banks of a reservoir and delivers bright blue water and orange sand A landlocked city in Spain is home to one of the warmest beaches. Think of Córdoba, and it's probably images of historical buildings and art galleries that come to mind. The Spanish city is one of Europe's culture capitals - home to the most UNESCO sites in the world including the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Medina Azahara, the city's historic centre, and the Courtyards Festival of Córdoba. The city has now become an even more compelling destination after a new study by Saga Holidays revealed it's also home to one of Europe's warmest beaches. Although not a coastal destination, Valdearenas Beach in Córdoba sits by a stunning lake with sandy shores and promises tourists average temperatures of 31°C in the high season. It outperforms two coastal competitors in Badajoz; Playa de Cheles and Playa de Orellana, by just 1°C. The beach is something to behold. In the summer months watersports enthusiasts and sunbathers descend on it in great numbers, thronging over sand that is a brilliant orange colour and into bright blue water. A recent visitor to the beach said they were "incredulous" when they heard that there was a beach near Córdoba, given the settlements' setting more than 100 miles from the coastline. They had not heard that around 40 years ago the lake was dug out of the hillside to serve as a reservoir, with sand artificially piled up on one corner to provide a public place to splash and sunbathe. "I come early morning to walk my dog. The views are incredible. Some mornings it is just so quiet, you feel like the only person on earth. After the walk, and the dogs swim! It;s off up the track for breakfast. Come here in the afternoon and sit with a drink and watch everyone enjoying the lake and the facilities. On an evening, watch the sun go down," one enthusiastic fan of Valdearenas Beach wrote on Tripadvisor. There are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Córdoba, not least that the area, enjoys over 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. The multiple religions, cultures, and civilizations that have lived in this fascinating city are reflected in its fascinating architecture and food. READ MORE: Holidaymakers stuck on Greek island thanks to little-known rule Founded by the Romans, the city was later ruled by the Visigoths and then became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and Europe's second-largest city by the 10th century. The city was then taken by Christian forces in 1236 and integrated into the Kingdom of Castile. Other notable attractions include the Roman Bridge, built in the 1st century BC and reconstructed multiple times, and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a medieval fortress and former residence of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, which also served as a seat for the Spanish Inquisition.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Tourists left stranded on Greek island because of little-known airport rule
A TikTok user has shared her 'journey from hell' after her flight was cancelled at the last minute because of a regulation at the Greek island's airport. Holidaymakers were left stranded on a Greek island due to an obscure regulation. "I had a journey from hell back from Zante about two days ago," TikTok user NKD Zante recounted in a recent video. "What is meant to be about a four hour journey home ended up being over 24 hours." The TikToker's ordeal wasn't the result of typical airport turmoil, but rather a little-known Zante rule that turned their holiday exit into a nightmare, reports the Mirror. "Basically, my flight home was meant to be at 10pm, and at five to 10 I knew we'd be delayed as we weren't boarding the flight. But at literally five to 10 they announced on the speaker 'sorry everyone, flight has been delayed until tomorrow'," NKD Zante detailed. "We were like, 'what do you mean?' We had to go back to arrivals, get all our luggage. They took us to the front of the airport, gave us 15 euros snack vouchers for some crisps and stuff, and then it was another three hour wait while they tried to organise the rest of us to find a place to stay, transfers. "They said they had no idea when our flight would be the next morning, and that they'd just text us with the new time the next day. But basically, pretty much everything at Zante Airport shuts at 10pm. "So if you have booked a really late flight and it gets delayed for whatever reason, past 10pm, they will just delay you to the next day. I didn't know this obviously, but apparently it has happened to six or seven flights in Zante Airport this summer. "So yeah, lesson learned, don't book a late flight home if you're flying from Zante." Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH), commonly used as a gateway to idyllic spots like Santorini and Kefalonia, has enforced restrictions on night flights since the early '90s in order to safeguard loggerhead sea turtles, which are endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and use the surrounding shores for nesting grounds. The conservation of these beaches is paramount as they play host to a significant portion of the Mediterranean's loggerhead turtle population—estimated to account for 80% of all nesters. The preservation of their habitats is of profound importance, given that loggerhead sea turtles are listed as an endangered species facing challenges such as habitat disruption and interference by humans. During the night-time, the loggerhead sea turtles are especially susceptible to disturbances; the extra noise and illumination from aircraft can drastically interfere with the nesting behaviour of the turtles. Such disturbances can pose adverse effects on the marine reptiles and their offspring. In a bid to mitigate the disruption, Zakynthos Airport has enforced a night-time curfew, spanning from dusk to 7 am, effectively grounding flights during the turtles' peak hours of activity. Elsewhere in Greece, islands are also taking steps to safeguard the turtles, such as imposing night-time restrictions on accessing nesting beaches and toning down artificial lighting. These collective efforts help ensure both nesting females and hatchlings have the optimal chance of survival. For those planning a trip to Zakynthos this summer, Travel Republic offers the following guidance: "Night flights to and from Zakynthos are limited as part of a long-standing effort to protect the island's endangered loggerhead turtles. "This reflects a growing commitment across the travel industry to support responsible tourism and environmental conservation. "It's certainly something for holidaymakers to be aware of, but by adjusting flight schedules to align with local curfews, airlines and travel providers are helping safeguard the ecosystem."
Evening Standard
a day ago
- Evening Standard
Best affordable family resorts in Europe: from Crete to South Tyrol
For kids aged five to 11 – and their parents – this resort on the sun-warmed north-eastern corner of Corfu is a dreamland. A free 'Beach Life' programme on select weeks in July and August provide little ones with a rigorous activity schedule of craft sessions, water games and treasure hunts, while parents kick back and soak up the Ionian blues from curvaceous Avlaki beach. Come evening you can wander to a nearby taverna to feast on Greek classics like saganaki and spanakopita, then later when little ones are tucked in bed you and your other half can sip nightcaps on your bedroom terrace, barely more than a souvlaki's toss from the cerulean surf.
