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Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brit tourists issued urgent warning as police reveal vile photos of how Majorca cocktails are made
British holidaymakers tourists travelling to Majorca this summer have been issued an urgent warning after local police discovered cocktails being prepared in appalling conditions. Palma Police shared vile images of a street vendor operating in the popular Platja de Palma area this week, where he was found cutting fruit on a used plastic bag laid directly on the ground of a car park. The disturbing photos, posted to the Spanish police force's X account, show watermelon slices and mint chopped up amid grime, black dirt spots and spilt alcohol. The man, who had no licence or sanitary permits, was caught during a routine patrol on 13 July. Officers found him surrounded by plastic cups, fruit, ice cubes, a knife, and a five-litre bottle of pre-mixed sangria and mojitos. He had been pouring the mixture into cups to sell illegally to unsuspecting tourists on the beachfront. Palma Police condemned the vendor's actions, writing in a post: 'Ingredients: fruit, alcohol... and the ground of a parking lot.' They further warned: 'Your health is not a game. Consume only in authorised places.' Authorities say the vendor's lack of hygiene and licensing posed a serious health risk, and a full report has now been submitted to the Food Safety and Nutrition Service of Spain's Ministry of Health. The incident has since sparked warnings for holidaymakers - particularly British tourists - to avoid purchasing drinks from street sellers, no matter how tempting in the summer heat. In a further bid to clean up the island's tourism sector, Majorca is also clamping down on practices within its restaurants. One new rule already causing friction among holidaymakers is a strict 'one bill per table' policy being implemented across eateries. Diners across the island will no longer be allowed to split the bill at certain restaurants because it is too 'complicated for the staff.' Juanmi Ferrer, the president of the Restaurants Association on the Spanish island, said there will now be 'one bill per table and it is up to the customers how they deal with the payment'. He explained the move comes in an attempt to make it simpler for restaurant staff, because allowing diners to individually pay for their share is often time consuming and leads to miscalculations and items not being paid for. 'Some don't want to pay for the wine, others specifically ask to pay for their own dish. This gets complicated for the staff, and there can be items that no one is charged for. It is time-consuming and even more so if the bill doesn't add up'.
Times
11 hours ago
- Times
17 of the best hotels with swim-up rooms in Turkey
Snooze, swim. Snooze, swim. It's the ultimate in holiday relaxation, slipping between lounger and pool, and it's never easier than when you can swim right up to your room. Turkish hoteliers are never slow to embrace new trends, and there are swim-up rooms, apartments and suites in every type of hotel, from family-friendly all-inclusives to romantic boutique hotels. Not that relaxing in this sun-drenched, spectacularly beautiful country is ever difficult; it may not have the super-slow pace of the Greek islands, but Turkish hospitality is second to none, with families particularly welcomed. Throw in crystal-clear seas, fantastic food and the sense of a culture rich in tradition and history and it's not difficult to see why so many British holidaymakers return to Turkey for a relaxing week in the sun. These are the country's best hotels with swim-up rooms. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £££ | SPA | POOL | 2 RESTAURANTS | Best for views The swim-up rooms at the Garcia also command the very best of the hotel's views over the lush green forests and sparkling waters of the Blue Lagoon. Each comes with a private poolside terrace, while inside you'll find rooms decorated in relaxing Mediterranean blues and natural finish wood (swim-up family suites are also available). Even if you go for one of the standard rooms you'll find plenty of swimming options, with four adult and two children's pools. And when you're ready to tear yourself away, it's just a short drive down to the beach. • Discover our full guide to Turkey £££ | SPA | POOL | 6 RESTAURANTS | Best for seclusion Most foreign tourists overlook the northern part of Turkey's Aegean coast, but it's worth a visit — the waters are bracingly cold and the temperatures less scorching than in the more southerly resorts. The high-end Paloma chain's Izmir offering is on a secluded part of the coast, right on a stretch of golden beach. Poolside rooms come with their own terrace and small tropical garden, offering maximum privacy and tranquillity. ££ | POOL | 1 RESTAURANT | Best for honeymoons The honeymoon suites at the Nautical are showstoppers: self-contained bungalows with their own private terraces and pools, set just metres back from a sparkling crystal bay that is for guests only. The emphasis at this tiny boutique hotel is on nature and relaxation: you can join meditation and yoga classes among the lemon trees in the garden, and enjoy laid-back acoustic live music events in the evenings. The cheaper rooms aren't too shabby either: individual stone houses are cleverly arranged to make you feel as though you're out in the wilderness on your own. £££ | SPA | POOL | 2 RESTAURANTS | Best for a stress-free break This luxury hotel occupies one of the best stretches of beach in Bodrum, where you can feel the soft white sand between your toes and dive into the refreshing crystal waters. The service is top notch: the hotel's personal assistant can organise everything during your stay, from restaurant bookings to excursion recommendations. Sumptuously designed rooms and restaurants stocked with high-end accessories will make you feel like one of the celebrities who frequent this part of the Turkish coast. The superior suites are swim-up rooms, and there are also beach villas available, each featuring its own private pool. • Best hotels in Bodrum• Best things to do in Bodrum £££ | SPA | POOL | 5 RESTAURANTS | Best for a quieter retreat This luxury resort in Side manages to meld the ease of all-inclusive with the exclusive feel of a boutique hideaway. It is renowned for the quality of its gastronomy, with frequently changing menus at its three à la carte restaurants offering a range of cuisines. If you feel the need to work off the excess, staff can arrange for gym equipment to be brought to your room and can book you sessions with personal trainers — or you can join sports classes ranging from yoga to beach volleyball. Swim-up rooms share a separate swimming pool. • Best hotels in Antalya• Best things to do in Antalya ££ | SPA | POOL | 3 RESTAURANTS | Best for spa lovers Far smaller than most of Antalya's sprawling resorts, Dosinia is the place to stay if you prefer a more intimate vibe, while keeping all of the perks of all-inclusive. Packages include free use of the extensive spa, which features a Turkish-style hammam and has a range of treatments and massages, as well as plenty of outdoor activities. The pool is freshwater and there is an on-site waterpark with slides as well as separate indoor and outdoor pools for kids plus clubs to keep them entertained. £££ | SPA | POOL | 9 RESTAURANTS | Best for golf lovers The pool feels more like a secret lagoon at this five-star resort, weaving a path through lush gardens and between suites that open up straight into the water. This vast place nonetheless manages to feel intimate thanks to its clever design, based around a mix of individual units and the main hotel, which features spacious, luxurious rooms. Its biggest draw, though, is the 27-hole championship golf course, designed by golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo. Guests staying in the swim-up suites can opt to have dinner served in their rooms. £££ | SPA | POOL | 2 RESTAURANTS | Best for gastronomy There is a new chef every week at this high-end concept hotel, where the focus is firmly on food. Each brings their own twist to the locally grown, organic ingredients, guaranteeing that every meal will be a joy. The sleek and modern design of this hotel is a welcome change from the usual brash all-inclusives, and the swim-up rooms also feature private patios equipped with comfy outdoor furniture. Even the long sandy private beach is well-designed, featuring cabanas that you'll want to lounge in all day.£ | SPA | POOL | 1 RESTAURANT | Best for night life In the centre of the popular resort of Hisaronu – set above Olu Deniz's glorious beach – this is a perfect base if you feel like getting out of the hotel and dancing the night away. The main strip is a five-minute walk away and features dozens of bars and restaurants catering to the international crowd who holiday and live in this part of Turkey. The blue lagoon, a surreal beautiful inlet ringed with white sand, is also close by. Swim-up pool rooms make the perfect base for relaxing on the days when you feel like staying at the hotel. • Best things to do in Fethiye £££ | SPA | POOL | 10 RESTAURANTS | Best for group holidays The last word in all-inclusive luxury, the Maxx Royal is so large and packed with amenities that you could easily spend a fortnight here without leaving the grounds. The Laguna suites have direct access to the pool and can sleep up to six adults in two bedrooms, and teenagers and young adults will love the hotel's laser tag area. Separate pools mean that you can enjoy an adult holiday here, although kids are well-served too, with an on-site aqua park with ten slides. ££ | SPA | POOL | 7 RESTAURANTS | Best for kids The focus is firmly on the kids at this resort just thirty minutes' drive from Antalya airport, with den-like children's rooms fitted out with bunk beds and clubs catering to all ages. Teenagers will love the nightclub and karaoke, and the watersports at the hotel's private beach. Six of the nine on-site swimming pools are designed with children in mind, and there is an aqua park with six slides too. If you opt for one of the swim-up suites you'll get a terrace that makes it feel like your own private pool. £££ | SPA | POOL | 15 RESTAURANTS | Best for entertainment Few hotels in Turkey can boast superstars Jennifer Lopez and Dua Lipa on their guest lists, but they are among the performers who have graced the stage at this all-inclusive resort. A few big names pop up here every summer, but even if you're not lucky enough to catch them you'll be spoilt for choice, with live bands and DJs performing every night. The hotel also hosts glamorous parties for adults only, with themes ranging from Cuban to Eighties glam. Shake off your hangover with one of the dozens of outdoors sports activities that take place during the day. £££ | SPA | POOL | 6 RESTAURANTS | Best for nature lovers In a pine forest on one of the most stirring stretches of the Turquoise Coast, this resort makes a great base for getting out and trekking through the pine forests of the Mediterranean or getting your adrenaline pumping with windsurfing, wakeboarding and waterskiing courses. But there is plenty to stay put for too: the hotel is split into adult and family sections, with swim-up rooms available in both. The six restaurants include a variety of world cuisines, and an intimate beachside option for romantic evenings. £££ | SPA | POOL | 13 RESTAURANTS | Best for wellness The hundreds of treatments available at the Ela's huge and luxurious spa alongside a full-size Turkish hammam decked out in beautiful traditional tiles and marble to make you feel like you are living in an Ottoman palace. There is plenty of organised entertainment for both small children and teenagers, and a huge range of sports activities available, so it will be easy to grab time for yourself and rewind. The best villas come with their own private pools. £ | SPA | POOL | 7 RESTAURANTS | Best for families The spacious family bungalows at this value-for-money resort have the feel of a self-catering hideaway, but with all the conveniences of a package holiday on the doorstep. Steps lead straight down from the balconies into the pool, and each has a private terrace complete with sunloungers. Cycle hire is a popular option here, with plenty of trails in the surrounding mountains and guides on hand to show you the best routes. There is a huge water sports programme, and children can also take swimming classes for a small extra cost. £ | POOL | 2 RESTAURANTS | Best for pool lovers All of the rooms and apartments at this well-designed hotel overlook the lagoon-style pool, with those on the ground floor having swim-up access to their private terrace. The pool has a lush, plant-filled island feature in the middle, where you can lounge with a good book between dips, and there's a cute kids' playground with slides, a trampoline and their own pool. The hotel also has owns the Buzz Beach Bar & Grill right on Olu Deniz's fabulous beach, with a 10 per cent discount for guests. £££ | SPA | POOL | 7 RESTAURANTS | Best for luxury Each sumptuous villa here comes not only with direct pool access, but with a garden area and decking where you can stretch out between swims. Down on the soft sand of the private beach you'll find luxury pavilions, the perfect place to watch the sunset with a cold cocktail from the beachside bar. It's a place made for relaxation, but if you want to get your blood pumping there is a well-equipped gym and full golf course, as well as a range of activities including yoga. For the best that money can buy, opt for the presidential villa, which comes with its own private pool. • Best places to visit in Turkey• Best luxury villas in Turkey
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Europe's cheapest holiday hotspot revealed - where families can grab three-course meal for just £67
Narrowly beating Bulgaria's Sunny Beach, Marmaris, a popular resort town on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, has been crowned the best value holiday hotspot in this year's annual Post Office Family Holiday Report. Already a popular choice for British holidaymakers looking to score a bargain break, Marmaris is known for its sandy beaches, charming old town and lively nightlife. Conducted in collaboration with holiday operator TUI, the report looks at the costs of 16 European resort destinations, comparing the price for a total of 10 tourist items, including an evening meal, suncream and a range of drinks. For gold-medalling Marmaris, the sum of these items came to £128.99. Visitors to the resort are able to secure a three-course family meal (including wine) for as little as £67.67. Also well-priced are cups of coffee (£2.01), and insect repellent (£2.61). In Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, the second most affordable destination listed by the report, the total cost was £129.47 – helped by the reasonable prices of bottled beer (£2.35) and a cup of coffee (£1.88). Portugal's Algarve came third place for a second year running, making it the cheapest Eurozone destination. Fourth-place Paphos continues to close the gap though: the Grecian destination was only £1 cheaper, at £144.44. Once again, Ibiza was rated the most expensive resort of all 16 surveyed, with a total cost of £242.79 – almost double that of Marmaris. Despite a price increase of 10.3 per cent since July 2024, Turkey's weak lira – which reached a record low against the pound in March 2025 - has undoubtedly contributed to Marmaris's popularity. In fact, the report found that for the top two destinations – both non-Eurozone – prices were 10 per cent lower than their Eurozone competitors. Head of Travel Money at Post Office, Laura Plunkett, said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse.' Indeed, Post Office Travel Money found that prices had risen in 13 of the 16 destinations, once the prices were converted into sterling. The biggest price hike was found in Majorca, where the total cost had increased 21.4 per cent, to £201.68. By contrast, two Greek destinations, Lanzarote and Crete, recorded 2.1 per cent and 7.8 per cent falls respectively. Research conducted for the Family Holiday Report found that over three-quarters (78 per cent) families are planning trips abroad this year. However, 74 per cent admitted to busting their budgets by 42 per cent on their last holiday – spending an average of £323 extra than their £766 budgets. Food and drink were a prevailing cause of this overspending, with over 90 per cent spending an average of £378 on eating out, buying drinks in bars and restaurants, and shop-bought food. Parents surveyed also admitted that pressure to provide 'holiday treats' for their children had encroached on budgets. Nine in ten parents spent an average of £39 on ice creams, with other holiday extras, such as theme park visits (£60) and beach gear (£49) also causing financial strain.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
New Spain rules that can cost Brits £5,992 at the border – it's an easy mistake that thousands could make
BRITS travelling to Spain face new rules that could leave them out of pocket at the border. Spain's Health Minister announced new rules meaning travellers heading to Spain are legally required to show proof of health cover as part of their travel insurance. 4 4 Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British holidaymakers, with over 17 million tourists going there every year. New rules mean that British citizens will have to get some more paperwork in order to prove they have appropriate travel insurance, which could be checked at the border. Official Foreign Travel Advice on the government website for Brits has added that at the Spanish border you may need to show proof of travel insurance. It's been reported that checks are being made at Spanish borders and by transport providers. Anyone without the correct cover could be fined up to €6,900 (£5,992). During a recent update, Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darias said that this measure is to avoid additional strain on the Spanish public health system. In a statement, Carolina Darias said: "The health of our visitors is a priority. "We are committed to ensuring that all travellers, including British citizens, have the necessary coverage to protect themselves and the local health system." ABTA reported in May 2025 that a quarter of people who went on a holiday abroad in the past 12 months did so without travel insurance. It stated that "those most likely to forgo insurance are travellers aged 25-34, with two in five (41 per cent) admitting that they went on at least one trip uninsured in the past year". The Spanish region undiscovered by Brits despite seaside views and ancient Roman cities 4 Visitors must have fully comprehensive coverage in place with reasonable excess to cover costs. This is especially important if for anyone with pre-existing medical conditions. While it's not illegal to travel without insurance, it can be risky as travel insurance helps you to claim if you run into trouble while on holiday. Cover ranges from emergency medical treatment, assistance if belongings are stolen while you're away, or you have to cancel a trip due to death, illness or bereavement. Before you leave, you can look around for the best travel insurance policy, for example whether that's individual or for families. The cost will vary depending on what kind of holiday you go on too, whether that's high or low risk. That's not the only new rule in Spain, lots more have been put in place that could lead to fines - including drinking alcohol in a public place. Anyone seen drinking on the street, in parks, or on beaches could be fined up to €3,000 (£2,568). A new law was passed in Spain last year that gives local municipalities the power to fine anyone caught smoking on the beach. If a municipality does take up the law, anyone caught smoking on the beach can be charged up to €2,000 (£1,700) - so check before you go. And you can only wear swimwear on the beach or sunbathing as certain places in Spain have cracked down on wearing bikinis and trunks into towns and cities. Two popular Spanish destinations have strict rules on where you can wear swimwear - with fines for any rule breakers. Here are even more . And the eight golden rules for travelling abroad this summer. What should you look for in a good travel insurance policy? TRAVEL insurance policies can vary a great deal, but here are some "must have Medical expenses - A good policy will give cover of £1million or more for travel in Europe and £2million or more for the USA Repatriation service - The costs of getting you back to the UK for medical reasons should be covered automatically by your policy Cancellation and curtailment - A good policy will cover you for £2,000 or more if you have to cancel or shorten your holiday Missed departure - Covers additional accommodation costs and travel expenses up to £500 or more if you miss your flight due to circumstances out of your control Delay - You'll usually be covered for £250 or more if your travel plans are delayed due to circumstances out of your control Baggage cover - Covers you if your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Look for policies that have cover of £1,500 or more. 4
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Tourists go home': Inside the angry protests on Spain's holiday islands
In scenes echoed across southern Europe, Spain's Canary Islands are suffering from a crisis of too many tourists – 18 million are projected to visit in 2025. On Tenerife, where tourism accounts for 35% of the economy and which draws the largest number of mostly British holidaymakers, it is tourists, not immigrants, who are seen as a threat to local identity. As protests across the Mediterranean continue, local people vent their anger at an exploitative, extractive and unsustainable tourism model. But is it still possible to change course, and are political leaders listening?
