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Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
I was Jet2 and Virgin cabin crew – here's 3 'secret' European destinations
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Most of us can only dream of being paid to travel, but for Helana Jackson, it's a reality. Working as cabin crew for Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic, the 30-year-old spent the early days of her career jetting off to destinations like New York, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Canada, and Switzerland. These days, she works as a TikTok micro-influencer, having built a loyal following by sharing tips on hidden gems and adventurous locations. At Metro, we're passionate about promoting off-the-beaten-path destinations. We support sustainable tourism and want to do our part to put places actively seeking visitors on the map. We asked Helana to give us her top three European destinations that have lots to offer and a manageable amount of tourists. And spoiler: two are in Spain, one is in Italy. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. As she tells us: 'We're only here once. If you can, you've got to get out there and see the world.' La Manga is synonymous with the La Manga Club, a sprawling luxury resort and a playground for the rich and famous. But Helana says there's more to this region, if you're willing to scratch the surface. Located in Murcia, Spain, La Manga is a narrow spit of land that divides the Mediterranean Sea and the Mar Menor, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon. While huge numbers of visitors descend on the region for its white sandy beaches and clear blue sea each year, this paradise still has many unspoiled corners. One of these, Helana says, is Calblanque Beach, which is regularly featured in 'best Spanish beach' roundups by The Telegraph and Condé Nast. For Helana, the best time to visit is spring. She says there are fewer crowds, and the weather averages around 23°C to 27°C. In the summer months, La Manga sees highs of 34°C. Paddleboarding and windsurfing are popular there, but if you haven't got the time (or the funds) to complete a windsurfing course, wing surfing is a great introduction. It uses a handheld, inflatable wing to propel you and your board across the water. A 90-minute wingfoil class costs €70 (£61). Further down the coast in Cabo de Palos, the Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve is considered one of the best diving spots in Europe. When it comes to food and drink, Helana says La Manga is generally quite affordable. She recommends Fanático Beach, a beach bar with sunbed hire and live music, and La Mestiza, a beach restaurant with sunset views. Here, a draught Heineken beer is €3.60 (£3), while a glass of wine is €5.50 (£4). Looking for a twin break? La Manga is a 20-minute drive from Cartagena, Europe's sunniest city. Helana went to Cogne by chance. She searched for the cheapest flight available, booked a seat, and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful places she's ever visited. The village, in the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy, is flanked by snow-dusted mountains and forested slopes. On a clear day, Helana says you can see Mont Blanc. It's less than two hours from Turin, which Helana describes as Milan without the crowds. And it's cheap to get there; on Monday, August 25, a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Turin is only £18. Helana's highlights include Cascate di Lillaz, an 'otherworldly' waterfall that can be reached by an easy hike. She also recommends renting a bike and exploring the trails of Gran Paradiso National Park. But her favourite moment from the trip was her time at Hotel Belvedere, a chalet perched above the village. The journey there was breathtaking, along a winding road through the valley, and the food (homemade ravioli and local wine) was delicious and affordable. Back to Spain for Helana's final recommendation: Guadalest, a mountainous village in the Alicante province with 240 residents. There are plenty of reasons to be fascinated by this tiny patch of paradise. It may be a 30-minute drive from the infamous party town of Benidorm, but Guadalest is worlds away from the boozy mayhem. Forget Sticky Vicky — life is slow here. You'll be kayaking, hiking, and exploring ancient ruins rather than revelling on the strip. Helana's recommendations include a hike to the reservoir and the walking trail from Guadalest to Beniardá and Benimantell. The climb to Guadalest Castle, a 12th-century Moorish fortress, is a good choice for a combination of hiking and history. It's challenging, but your reward is a panoramic view of the whitewashed village below. Entry to the castle is €4 (£3.46), which includes access to the San Jose Castle ruins, the Alcozaiba prison, and the bell tower. There are plenty of museums in the castle grounds, such as the Micro-Gigantic Museum, Salt and Pepper Shakers Museum, and the Ethnological Museum. Though Guadalest is traditionally a day-trip destination — from Alicante or Benidorm, you can spend six to eight hours exploring the Valley and the Algar waterfalls for around £69 — Helana recommends staying the night. 'We were able to experience a slower, more authentic side of Spain.' Helana stayed at Casa Oliveta, a rustic guesthouse just a six-minute drive from the main village. Prices per night range from £130 to £160, depending on room type. In Guadalest, the evenings are calm and peaceful — perfect for watching the sunset and enjoying a relaxed dinner. More Trending The best spot for all of the above is Restaurant L'Hort, a traditional Valencian eatery nestled high up in the mountains. Helana concludes: 'Guadalest gave us a taste of mountain life, with natural beauty, culture, and tranquility all in one spot.' 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Economist
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Economist
The year of the women's-sports bar
THE HUM is nothing unusual. Talking heads on the televisions comment on the last play of the game and fans woot when the players hit big shots. But there are signs that it's not your normal sports bar. The menu features both bulgogi beef tacos and 'Girl Dinner', a charcuterie board with dried apricots and olives. Instead of Heineken and tequila sodas the drink offerings include the 'Sporty Spice Margarita', the '9-to-5' espresso martini and the 'Red Card', a chilled fireball shot. The clientele is conspicuously lacking in Y chromosomes. So are the athletes on the screens. This is Jolene Jolene, a women's-sports bar.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia ousts Germany from global top-five beer brewers
Russia has overtaken Germany in beer production for the first time, pushing the EU country out of the top five global brewers, according to an industry report released on Tuesday. Russia's beer output rose by around 9% in 2024, reaching nearly 9.1 billion liters, while production in Germany declined by 1% to 8.4 billion liters. As a result, Germany fell to sixth place, the report by leading global hop trader BarthHaas said. BarthHaas CEO Thomas Raiser told DPA that Russia's advance is mainly due to a sharp drop in beer imports, which has boosted domestic production. The shift follows the escalation of the Ukraine conflict more than three years ago and the trade and economic sanctions that ensued. Since early 2022, major Western brewers such as Carlsberg, Heineken, and AB InBev have exited the Russian market. While the EU did not formally ban beer exports to the country, sanctions and corporate withdrawals disrupted supply chains and logistics. In response, Moscow introduced steep import tariffs on alcoholic beverages from 'unfriendly' countries, making foreign beer significantly less competitive. Two Russian breweries have also entered BarthHaas' Top 40 Brewers list. Baltika Breweries, ranked 12th, was part of the Carlsberg Group until mid-2023. United Breweries (OPH), formerly owned by Heineken, joins in 24th place, the report noted. Given the surge in production, Russia has also expanded its beer exports. In the first quarter of 2025, exports rose 25% year-on-year, with key markets including Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Abkhazia, and Tajikistan. Shipments also resumed to several African and South American countries. Germany, once a brewing powerhouse, continues to see falling consumption, driven by an aging population, increased competition from other beverages, and reduced purchasing power, according to DPA. Rising production costs have similarly taken a toll, with 52 breweries closing in 2024 alone, official statistics show. The BarthHaas report also pointed to two consecutive years of economic contraction in Germany, along with a decline in hops production. According to the document, the world's four largest beer producers in 2024 were China, the US, Brazil, and Mexico.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Can crunch hits United Breweries' growth as demand for canned beer surges
India's largest beer manufacturer, United Breweries Ltd is facing an unprecedented challenge -- shortage of cans leading to frequent stock outs when consumers now prefer to drink canned beer. The company has lost at least 1-2 points of growth due to this over the last six months, said managing director Vivek Gupta . "The shortage of cans is a challenge. Cans as a segment is growing at a certain pace, and there is no quick fix for the supply of cans. So that is a little bit of something for us, in the next quarter. This is definitely (an issue) for us, and for the industry as well. Those are some of the factors that make me nervous,' Gupta told analysts during the company's first quarter earnings call on Wednesday. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category PGDM healthcare Public Policy MBA MCA Cybersecurity Data Science Healthcare Management Design Thinking Product Management Degree Leadership others Finance Operations Management Data Analytics Digital Marketing CXO Technology Project Management Others Data Science Artificial Intelligence Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details Despite this, the manufacturer of Kingfisher and Heineken brands grew volumes by 11% in the April-June quarter and gained market share in both overall and premium segment. The premium portfolio, in particular, grew at 46%. Gupta said there is a fixed supply of cans in the market, whether it's for the beer industry, or some of the other industries. Even within beer industry, there is a fixed quota while the demand is more than that, he said. "So we definitely have stock outs, because we are not being able to supply cans. Or that we cant get cans,' he said. The MD said importing cans will also take time. "The government of India, along with multiple associations are working on that, but that also will take time, the backward integration in the beer industry needs a lot of work. Whether it's bottles or cans. We are actually actively working with international suppliers for long term on that. We would have atleast lost, I would say, 1-2 points growth because of lack of cans over a 6-month period," said Gupta. Last year the company imported new bottles as supplies remained tight. "The recycled bottle supply chain was very much disturbed by high cullet demand," the company said in its latest annual report. United Breweries has posted its standalone profit after tax for the first quarter ending June 30th at Rs 184 crore which grew by 6% on a year-on-year basis, and the net sales for the period grew by 16% to reach Rs 2,862 crore. The company invested Rs 136 crore in the first quarter as compared to Rs 89 crore during the same period last year. The investments were primarily focused on commercial and supply chain initiatives. On Wednesday, United Breweries' shares closed at Rs2,020 a piece on the BSE, down by 0.78%.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
India's United Breweries posts higher Q1 profit on premium growth, lower costs
July 22 (Reuters) - United Breweries ( opens new tab, India's largest beer maker, reported a nearly 6% rise in quarterly profit on Tuesday, benefiting from lower excise duty costs and strong demand for its premium beers. The Kingfisher beer maker's consolidated profit came in at 1.84 billion rupees ($21.30 million) for the quarter ended June 30, up from 1.74 billion rupees a year earlier. United Breweries, majority-owned by Dutch brewer Heineken ( opens new tab, posted a nearly 16% rise in net sales, led by a 11% growth in volumes, higher pricing and premiumisation. Total expenses fell 7.8%, driven by lower excise duty costs. Beer makers in India are riding a wave of resilient premium consumption, as upper middle-class and affluent consumers, largely insulated from the rising living costs in metros, continue to spend freely on higher-end goods, including pricier brews. The shift toward premiums has helped offset broader inflationary pressures and subdued demand at the mass-market level, fuelling earnings growth for players in the alcohol and lifestyle segments. Spirits-maker Radico Khaitan ( opens new tab, retail chain Shoppers Stop ( opens new tab and beauty retailer Nykaa ( opens new tab have capitalised on this trend in recent quarters, reporting strong gains driven by their premium portfolios. Premium segment grew 46% in the reported quarter, higher than the overall volume growth of 11%. PEER PERFORMANCE * The mean of analysts' ratings standardised to a scale of Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Sell, and Strong Sell ** The ratio of the stock's last close to analysts' mean price target; a ratio above 1 means the stock is trading above the PT APRIL TO JUNE STOCK PERFORMANCE -- All data from LSEG -- $1 = 86.3650 Indian rupees
