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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Desperate tourists sprint to secure poolside spots even after queuing for hour
British holidaymakers had been queuing up for an hour before they made a mad dash for the best sun loungers it is the latest incident of its kind caught on camera in recent weeks Desperate Brits have been snapped yet again running to secure the best sunbed spots after queuing for an hour. The sun-thirsty holidaymakers in Lanzarote made their move as soon as staff opened up the pool area, with some even breaking out into a little dash. They had been queuing from 8am onwards before an orderly queue turned into an all-out war. In the footage, one punter can even be seen throwing a rope barrier out of the way so he could get to the beds sooner. It is the latest incident of its kind captured on camera, sparking more ridicule. Isabelle Hanssen watched on stitches as pool-goers flooded her surroundings. The hilarious footage was captured at the Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort, Las Palmas. The Netherlands native enjoyed her holiday morning watch on Thursday. It came after she filmed Brits and Germans lining up for their desired beds the day before. Despite the rush from guests, Isabelle confirmed that there are more than enough sunbeds for all at the hotel. 'Nothing like the 9:30am sunbed sprint to start your relaxing holiday,' Isabelle told Luxury Travel Daily. Members of the public slammed the Brits' behaviour abroad. One said: 'Faith in humanity destroyed.' A second added: 'Clampits on tour.' A third said: 'Stayed many times at this exact hotel, never seen this happen.' A fourth wrote: 'Worst plan ever.' While a fifth said: 'Why? This would not be considered a holiday for me.' Earlier this week, scores of sun-seeking Brit holidaymakers were mocked after queuing for half an hour before desperately scrambling for sun loungers. Tourists in Benidorm could be seen lining up in the hotel before the gates to the pool opened, sparking a frantic bid to secure the best spots. Once they were allowed in, they rushed to the poolside sunbeds carrying towels. Mark and Karen Gregory, both 50, said people were queuing for half an hour before the pool opened at 10am on Sunday. It happened at the Hotel Rosamar in Benidorm. 'It was quite comical to see people trying to get the best spots," said Mark, from Swansea. 'People were queuing at least half an hour before the pool area opened. I reckon there were at least 50 to 60 people queuing that morning. 'They were mainly British but a lot of Spanish too. We're more 'go with the flow' type of people and don't bother with the sunbed wars. It's more fun to watch. 'When it comes to people reserving sunbeds with their towels, it's an age-old problem, there's not enough sunbeds for everyone. I understand why they do it of course but it's the ones who chuck their towels down at 8am and don't turn up till the afternoon that's the problem. 'At the end of the day it's all about having the best holiday possible and if that means queuing for the best sun beds so be it.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I went on holiday to UKRAINE – I fled £7-a-night hostel during air raid siren on first night…but it didn't spoil my trip
A BRAVE Brit holidaymaker had an 'incredible' holiday in war-torn Ukraine - despite harrowing air raid sirens forcing him to take shelter in the subway. Daring tourist Adam Smith stayed at a £7-a-night hostel for five days in the capital Kyiv - and now says he "can't wait to go back" there. 9 Brit holidaymaker Adam Smith went on holiday to war-torn Ukraine Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled 9 The Brit was woken up while dozing off to the harrowing sound of air rad sirens Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled 9 The Brit said he 'can't wait to go back' Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled He embarked on the trip while Vladimir Putin's Russia continued to pummel Ukrainian cities with devastating drone blitzes and air strikes as part of his bloody invasion. 32-year-old Adam first had to fly to Krakow, Poland, before taking a gruelling 10-hour train to arrive at his budget hostel in the city centre. But moments after getting some shut eye, Adam was suddenly woken by a chilling air raid siren. He had to rush to the nearest subway to escape Putin's brutal strikes. The Northampton man told Luxury Travel Daily: 'The air raid siren went off when I was just drifting off. 'I knew I'd hear it at some point because it's pretty much every night. He continued: 'It was about 11pm and I could hear it in the distance. 'I didn't know what to do but I went to the shelter." Most read in The Sun The intrepid tourist detailed that his experience felt "very real" - and explained that he felt more excited than scared. He described the shelter that him and hundreds of other locals had to take refuge in during the overnight air attack. Russian plan to turn razed Ukrainian cities into MUSEUMS of death emerges Adam said: 'We were all the way at the bottom of the subway. There were around 500 people. 'The atmosphere is really hard to describe. 'It felt like when you do a minute's silence, there was just quiet anticipation waiting for the all clear or get bombed." He also told of the worrying fact that 'a lot of people don't bother going to the shelter because they're really bored of it". Adam even described his fatigue of bloodthirsty Putin's constant attacks. 'By the end of the trip, I couldn't be bothered,' he said. The bold holidaymaker said the sirens blared three times a night during his trip. Adam's family begged him not to go on the trip but his friends weren't surprised. 9 He explored the city of Kyiv and said he loved the people and food there Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled 9 View from the train he had to take from Poland to Ukraine Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled 9 He said there weren't many tourists Credit: Jam Press/@Adrenalinefuelled He said: 'I've always wanted to go, even before the war, but the war has gone on for so long. 'Some people say there's no war and other people say Ukraine is destroyed. There's definitely a war." The whole trip set Adam back £250 - with a return flight from London Luton Airport to Poland costing just £40. From there, the return train from Krakow to Kyiv was £80. Adam took about £100 to spend, and said that the most expensive activity was a war-themed tour which cost £200. He also described Ukraine: "It was quite grey, I'm not sure if that was the war or the winter. 'There weren't many tourists.' But the keen traveller is already making plans to go back to Kyiv in summer, and said that he "loved" the city. 'The people were helpful and the food was good," he said. 'I went on a tour of occupied cities that Russia had been pushed out of and that was interesting,' Adam added. It comes after mad Putin launched Russia's biggest air assault on Ukraine yet which killed three siblings as well as 10 others during a gargantuan blitz over the weekend. The three tragic children were siblings from the same Martyniuk family and named as Roman, 17, Tamara, 12 and Stanislav, aged eight. Nato scrambled fighter jets after Russian forces launched 367 missiles and drones in the largest single attack since the start of the war in 2022. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, said Moscow used a mix of 69 ballistic and cruise missiles and 298 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones. Read more on the Irish Sun It was the most massive strike in terms of the number of air attack weapons on the territory of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ihnat said. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of Ukraine. 9 Photo released by Ukraine shows extent of ongoing invasion and attacks on Kyiv, May 25 Credit: Alamy 9 Adam explored many parts of the city and went on a war-themed tour Credit: Jam Press/Adrenalinefuelled 9 He travelled despite Putin's ongoing invasion and constant blitzes Credit: Jam Press/Adrenalinefuelled
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Desperate Brits mocked after making mad dash for Benidorm sun loungers
Sun starved tourists in Brit hotspot Benidorm can be seen lining up in the hotel before the gates to the pool open - sparking a frantic bid to secure the best spots Scores of sun-seeking Brit holidaymakers have been mocked after queuing for half an hour before desperately scrambling for sun loungers. Sun starved tourists in Brit hotspot Benidorm can be seen lining up in the hotel before the gates to the pool open, sparking a frantic bid to secure the best spots. Then once they are allowed in, they rush to the poolside sunbeds carrying towels. Mark and Karen Gregory, both 50, said people were queuing for half an hour before the pool opened at 10am on Sunday (May 25). It happened at the Hotel Rosamar, in Benidorm, Spain. Brits have flocked to the resort to lap up some half-term sun during the school holidays. 'It was quite comical to see people trying to get the best spots" Mark, from Swansea, told Luxury Travel Daily. 'People were queuing at least half an hour before the pool area opened. I reckon there were at least 50 to 60 people queuing that morning. 'They were mainly British but a lot of Spanish too. We're more 'go with the flow' type of people and don't bother with the sunbed wars. It's more fun to watch. 'When it comes to people reserving sunbeds with their towels, it's an age-old problem, there's not enough sunbeds for everyone. I understand why they do it of course but it's the ones who chuck their towels down at 8am and don't turn up till the afternoon that's the problem. 'At the end of the day it's all about having the best holiday possible and if that means queuing for the best sun beds so be it.' Other Brits poked fun at the poolside antics, while others slammed them. Ange fumed: 'It happens in all hotels in Beni. There are signs saying they will take towels off, but they never do.' Karen added: 'Benidorm, my idea of hell.' Another said: 'Does this really happen? I'm going there Thursday.' A fourth said: 'Never done this and never will.' Hotel Rosamar has been approached for comment. Earlier this month, one angry holidaymaker was branded a 'Karen' for a similar incident. She had launched into an angry rant poolside with fellow Brits over a sunbed, and infuriated guests with her foul language. The woman was seen accusing a couple of being in the spot she had been using "all week" while she was staying at Hyde Park Lane apartments in Lanzarote. Someone nearby got the whole thing on camera. 'The Scottish lady said they had been using those beds all week, accusing the couple lying down of moving their items,' Callum Lines, 31, said. 'Just to the left, out of shot, was a sign stating no reservation of sunbeds. 'I'm not sure this was the case though. The Scottish lady left to apparently seek management but they never showed. "I've always got two pence to share even when it's probably not required, but you come away for a rest and some relaxation. There were plenty more available beds - all with equal sun exposure - so this really wasn't needed."
New York Post
23-05-2025
- New York Post
Travel expert reveals how to get the best seat on a plane — for free: ‘Works. Every. Time.'
A self-proclaimed travel expert has revealed her secret to getting the best seat on a plane — for free. Elaine Poon, who shares her travel hacks on Instagram, posted a video with 2.2 million views about how she wins out on Ryanair flights without paying any extra fees. 'With budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet, they make their money mostly from charging extra for choosing your seat,' the London-based content creator told Luxury Travel Daily. Advertisement 4 Elaine Poon posted a video (above) revealing how she gets the best seats on Ryanair flights without paying any extra fees. Jam Press/@travelainewithme The 33-year-old said in the caption that the best seats on a Ryanair flight include the front rows of the plane, emergency aisle seats for extra leg room, and the far-back rows. She explained that the rear section is preferable because passengers can enter and exit through the back, so it's just as quick as sitting in the front rows. Advertisement But she has one trick that 'has always worked' for her to get the seat she desires. 'Check in online as late as possible,' she wrote. 'That's it.' Ryanair fills up the plane starting with the 'worst' seats so that travelers have to pay extra to change them, she claimed in her caption, adding that the airline will 'intentionally split people up within the same booking.' 4 Elaine Poon is a self-proclaimed travel expert. Jam Press/@travelainewithme Advertisement 'And as people check in, they fill up the seats, and what's left are the best ones – either far front or far back,' she said. 'Almost always either a window or aisle seat, too.' She believes that the later you check in to your Ryanair flight, the better the chances are of getting the seats that the airline hasn't assigned yet, 'which are usually the more expensive seats located either in the front, far back or emergency exit rows.' Poon shared that there have been multiple times where she had the entire emergency row to herself at no extra cost. Advertisement When Poon had a 10:15 p.m. flight to Mallorca, she recalled, she checked in somewhere between three and five hours before the flight. For the trip, she chose random seat allocation and managed to snag a front row seat, while her boyfriend got a window seat in the last row. She said that she refuses to pay an additional fee on airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet 'when the whole point of the flying budget is so that we can fly to another country for as cheap as possible.' Poon shared another time where she had an entire row to herself on an EasyJet flight. 4 Elaine Poon and her friends each showing off individual window seats. Jam Press/@travelainewithme 'You guessed it – I didn't pay extra for it either, because I simply applied the same approach that I've been using for every budget airline that makes you pay extra for seats,' she said. 'Works. Every. Time.' However, just like any hack, it's not always foolproof. 'Obviously, don't check-in too late, and always check what the cut-off time is because each flight can be different,' Poon added. 'For example, one of my friends was put on a wait list because she checked in later than usual. This doesn't happen often – definitely hasn't happened to me,' she said. Advertisement 'I do have to say that if this does happen and you get bumped from the flight due to overbooking, you get put onto the next flight and receive compensation on top of that. Which, to me, is not that bad.' 4 Elaine Poon explains her hack to get the best seat on the plane without paying extra. Jam Press/@travelainewithme Poon's hack is similar to the 'check-in chicken' travel trend that went viral last year. Advertisement With that, travelers will intentionally delay their online check-in to the last minute in hopes of landing a better seat. The method relies on the fact that airlines will often charge extra for better seats, split up groups and initially assign fewer desirable seats. When check-in closes, the leftover seats tend to be the more coveted ones, including those with extra legroom. Just like in the game of chicken, the point is to push your luck to the limit and eventually get the desired outcome — and your opponent folds. In this case, your opponent is the airline, and your desired outcome is a comfortable seat.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- New York Post
Guests are paying to sleep at the ‘best zoo in Europe' so they can wake up alongside bears, wolves and penguins
Bears, wolves and deer — oh my! A Belgian zoo is offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a room with mammals, birds and animals of all kinds. Deemed as 'Europe's best zoo,' Pairi Daiza is now allowing guests to fully experience wild animal life at all hours of the day. Advertisement Imagine waking up alongside a walrus, penguin, wolf or polar bear? 3 Who wouldn't want to wake up next to an adorable penguin? Jam Press/Pairi Daiza It could sound like a nightmare to some — but at the Pairi Daiza resort in Brugelette, Belgium, guests are paying for rooms and suites that start at a little over $100 a night to do exactly that. Advertisement This unique resort offers spacious suites and lodges that overlook animals on all fours — or mammals bopping underwater. Each of the rooms has giant glass walls that give adventurous guests an insight into the lives of these creatures. 3 Rates for these rooms and suites start at $124 a night. Jam Press/Pairi Daiza The zoo has over 7,500 animals in different themed areas, and according to Luxury Travel Daily, the resort has over 100 different rooms with amazing views of many of these animals that guests can choose from. Advertisement Talk about a fever dream. Aside from being a unique place to vacation, Pairi Daiza is also an Arctic Ambassador for Polar Bears International, which is a non-profit conservation organization. 'We focus on the quality of our facilities for polar bears, our commitment to fighting climate change, and our efforts to raise awareness about the threats to biodiversity,' the resort said, according to Jam Press. 3 Pairi Daiza is an Arctic Ambassador for Polar Bears International, which is a non-profit conservation organization. Jam Press/Pairi Daiza Advertisement And the Pairi Daiz resort is just one of many hotels trying to offer guests an unforgettable experience. 'Hotels stand out from the crowd by offering unique experiences for their guests,' Susan Zurbin-Hothersall, travel agent at the Travel Edge Network, told The Post. 'They can include properties that are located in one-of-a-kind areas (mountaintops, remote wilderness, historic districts), have distinctive architecture, interior design elements, memorable amenities, such as rooftop bars, customized meals, spas in areas, sustainability focus,' she added. If you're looking to stay abroad — and bonus points if you love history — the Argos Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey, is in a 2,000-year-old monastery. As a result, you can book a stay in one of their ancient cave or tunnel rooms. And if you're a Northern Lights buff, the Hotel Ranga in Hella, Iceland is tucked away in a remote area with barely any artificial light. The property has telescopes for prime stargazing and a chance to see the Northern Lights.
