Latest news with #loveholidays
The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
Cheeky 48-hour holidays to Europe's best cities, beach towns and islands this summer from £167
THEY'RE weekend wonders – four-hour flight breaks to Europe's most exciting destinations. A cheeky two-night getaway won't break the bank and it provides a perfect escape without chipping into your holiday allowance. 3 Lisa Minot presents her pick of 48-hour getaways for this summer – whether you want to explore a city or just recharge on a beach. CITY Paris from £167pp August is a great time to visit the French capital as its residents head away for their annual summer breaks and the crowds are fewer. The H4 Hotel Wyndham Paris Pleyel Resort offers great value as it's in the suburb of Saint-Denis with excellent train links to the city and an ideal quieter retreat after pounding the busy streets of central Paris. Room-only, with flights from Southampton on August 1. See Milan from £189pp There's a lovely courtyard at the 4H Devero Hotel & Spa with a large pool and restaurant terrace — perfect for a little dip after discovering the delights of this chic Italian city. Set between Milan and Bergamo, you could even head to the delights of Lake Como. Hotel is B&B. Flights from Liverpool on August 22. See Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival Prague from £245pp The Chevron Design Hotel is perfect for a quick getaway, just a short walk from the Vltava River and vibrant Andel area. The area is known for its bustling restaurants and cafes, and a tram ride away you can visit the castle and historic Lesser Town. Room-only, with flights from Luton on August 1. Find out more and book at Krakow from £283pp The Belle Epoque Residence offers stylish studios and apartments close to the historic Old Town. Just ten minutes' walk brings you to the Main Market Square, a medieval treasure and one of the biggest in Europe, while the lush greenery of Planty Park which encircles the Old Town is also a stone's throw away. Room only. Flights from Heathrow on July 18, hand luggage only. Details from Budapest from £289pp Enjoy the beauty of the city from the water with The Grand Jules Boat Hotel, moored on the Danube River on the Buda side near Margaret Bridge. You'll have easy access to attractions both sides of the river and are within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Hotel is B&B. Flights from Birmingham on August 15 with hand luggage only. See Athens from £435pp Cool off after a day's sightseeing at the Skylark, Aluma Hotel & Resorts rooftop pool and bar. This contemporary, chic 4H hotel is right in the centre of the action on Omonoia Square, and is close to the metro. Major archaeological sites are within easy reach. Hotel is B&B. Flights from Gatwick on August 8. See 3 BEACH Alicante from £275pp Live the high life in exciting Alicante at the NH Alicante with its rooftop pool promising panoramic views of the city and Santa Barbara Castle. For extra pampering, the hotel's spa has a sauna and jacuzzi in a peaceful setting. Postiguet Beach and the Old Town are a bus ride away. Stay room-only, fly from Leeds Bradford on July 25. See Magaluf from £279pp Relax on Bali beds or comfy cabanas at the great-value 3H Inn Mallorca Aparthotel with its beach-club style pool. Rooms are modern and have air con as well as a kitchenette, balcony or terrace. In the heart of Magaluf, the apartments are just a short stroll from the beach. Stay self-catering with flights from East Midlands, August 15. See Barcelona from £357pp Combine the best of both worlds with a stay where you can take in city sights and still enjoy the beach life. The 3H Oriente Atiram Hotel is right on the famous Las Ramblas street near the Gothic Quarter. The former 19th century monastery offers modern, simple rooms in the heart of the action, just 200 metres from the nearest Metro station. Stay B&B with flights from Manchseter on July 25. See Algarve from £359pp Savour fabulous views across Faro and the Ria Normosa Natural Park from the contemporary rooftop pool of the 4H AP Eva Senses hotel. Perfect for anyone looking for a relaxed city break, the hotel is close to bars and restaurants and has a lovely outdoor freshwater pool. Stay B&B with flights from East Midlands on August 8. See Benidorm from £389pp The 3H Hotel Servigroup Pueblo is ideal for 48 hours of fun in the sun, with great entertainment and the golden sands of Levante beach on your doorstep. Benidorm's pretty Old Town is within walking distance and there's both indoor and outdoor pools to enjoy. Enjoy B&B with flights from Leeds Bradford on July 25, 22kg luggage and transfers. See Ibiza from £389pp Go beyond the clubs with a chilled stay at the 4H Invisa Hotel La Cala in the pretty town of Santa Eulalia. Known as the gastronomic capital of Ibiza, there's good food guaranteed on Restaurant Street with relaxed, al-fresco dining. The hotel is close to the beach and has a laid-back atmosphere. Stay B&B with flights from Birmingham on July 25.
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Departure Lounge: Bayou-bound for a look at Louisiana's wetlands
Sri Lankan adventure Sri Lanka's dazzling scenery, culture and hospitality is matched by its colourful cuisine. Join Sunway's Flavours of Sri Lanka trip for an eight-night culinary adventure that explores the Indian Ocean island's exciting culinary heritage. From Colombo's bustling Negombo Fish market, spice gardens, and cookery class in a local kitchens, the itinerary includes visiting a family-run cinnamon estate, cooking hoppers and roti with local chefs and tea tastings in the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya. 8 night private tour departing October7, €2,229, including return flights, half board, tours, and transfers. Deal of the week Old town at night, Prague Online travel agent loveholidays has launched its summer sale, with discounts of up to €500 on selected holidays until midnight on July 6. Offers cover packages everywhere from European favourites to Dubai and the USA. From a seven-night stay at the three-star Hotel Merce from €299, departing in August from Cork and a three-night stay at the five-star Grandium Hotel Prague from €289, departing in August from Dublin to a seven-night stay at the three-star Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North from €819, departing in September from Dublin, there's lots of choice and value. Taste of New Orleans We might think of music and bourbon when we consider New Orleans, but the colourful southern US city is surrounded by water and shaded by ancient oaks, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. From bike tours along the scenic Lafitte Greenway to kayaking along the bayou and swamp tours exploring Louisiana's vast wetland ecosystems and wildlife, there's even more to this destination than the colourful culture, architecture, music and cuisine. Anniversary special Dungarvan's Park Hotel To celebrate The Park Hotel Dungarvan's 35th anniversary, the Waterford four-star is offering a €35 discount off online room bookings made between July 4 and 11 as part of a week-long anniversary promotion. Extensively renovated in recent times, the Flynn Hotel Group property sits on five landscaped acres overlooking the Colligan River. Just a short walk from Dungarvan and the start of the Waterford Greenway, guests can enjoy the Riverside Health Club with swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. Italian jazz Hotel Calimala, Florence Jazz in Cork may be fun but how about a jazz festival in Florence, Italy? Firenze Jazz Festival takes place between 2-14 September, as the Renaissance city transforms into an open-air jazz club. Visitors can expect musical performances by world class musicians echoing through piazzas, courtyards, contemporary art spaces, and rooftop bars. For comfort, the chic Hotel Calimala beckons with its contemporary styling in two heritage buildings in the city's historic centre. With eclectic interiors, art-filled rooms, and a panoramic rooftop (complete with live DJ sets), it's the perfect pad. B&B from €300.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- The Sun
The stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night
SUNNING yourself on a beautiful beach doesn't always have to involve long-haul flights and weeks away from home. In fact, there are some beautiful beach towns, some only two hours from the UK, that have golden sand, clear blue water and affordable accommodation, with some deals less than £450 for a family of four, for a week. For as little as £39 a night, these lush locations across Spain, Portugal and France offer a fuss-free family trip, going from school to the seaside in less than three hours. Armaçao da Pera, Algarve, Portugal 7 A lesser-known spot on Portugal's Algarve coast, former fishing village Armaçao da Peras is a treasure trove of golden beaches and crystal clear water, dotted with secret coves. This up-and-coming holiday resort is surrounded by cobbled streets and historical landmarks. A wander through the old market, stacked with hand-weaved baskets and local crafts, and you'll feel like you've discovered a completely new place. But, in reality it is only 20 minutes to the water parks, theme parks and wild nightlife of Albufeira - so it's ideal for families. Book a four-star, seven-night stay with loveholidays from £269pp, which is only £39-per-day. El Arenal, Majorca, Balearic Islands 7 This Balearic bolthole is on Majorca's sun-soaked southern coast and is perfect for those who want an active break. Sitting on six kilometres of soft sandy beach and with water sports such as windsurfing and water-skiing on offer, El Arenal rivals neighbouring lively resort Magaluf - and, dare we say it, is even a bit nicer. Boasting authentic Spanish restaurants and bars, as well as a brilliant beach, this top stop is only a 2 hour 25 minute flight and there are some brilliant bargains to be had. A beer at Scottish-owned bar, Bogarts, is only £2 - so that's a great place to start. Book with loveholidays, seven nights all-inclusive for only £399 per person. Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France 7 Ooh la la! Sitting off the coast of France and Italy, the beautiful island of Corsica combines the best of both worlds. Think fantastic food, cheap-yet-excellent wine, and beaches that rival the Italian Riviera. There's no shortage of charming coastal towns but Porto-Vecchio also boasts white sandy beaches, in particular Plage de Palombaggia & Plage de Saleccia, which are perfect swimming spots. If you don't want to feast on bargain bottles of wine and scoff giant gelato cones for £2 in the citadel, you can hop on a boat to the Lavezzi islands or hike in the shade through the Ospedale forest. Book with loveholidays for flights plus a range of self-catering options from £50 a night. Salou, Spain 7 An easy 2hr 20 minute flight will take you into Barcelona Reus airport, but instead of heading to the stylish, Spanish city, go south to Salou. This sweet spot has all the Catalan charm of Barcelona, but with a stunning beach and promenade that has beach cafes serving £2 Cava and fresh tapas starting from £3 a plate. Book with holiday hypermarket for a Tui package including a hotel right on the beach, breakfast, and flights with all baggage and transfers for only £507pp for seven days. Menorca, Spain 7 Just 2 hours and 25 minutes from the UK, you'll be spoilt for choice on the Balearic island of Menorca, with beautiful villages, coves, hidden beaches and fantastic food. Nightlife here is island-style, with little beach huts nestled into the cliffs and open-air restaurants serving freshly caught seafood for a fraction of the price you'd get in London, or even Spain's bigger beach destinations. Book an apartment with holidayhypermarket for £471 per person for seven nights and have the option to make your own picnic to take to the beach. Puerto Pollensa, northern Spain 7 Puerto Pollensa is a picturesque, leafy seaside town in northern Spain that has a sandy coastline and crystal clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you prefer to be on dry land, the medieval town is beautiful, with lots of Spanish history and shady, cobbled streets. There are more than enough tapas counters, restaurants and bars to keep the party going until the early hours. Flying to Palma, you can be there in two hours, 30 minutes, and you are ideally located if you want to explore further afield too. Book seven nights, four-star self-catering with travelsupermarket for £316 per person. The World's 50 Best Beaches The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches. Lucky Bay, Australia Source D'Argent, Seychelles Hidden, Philippines Whitehaven, Australia One Foot, Cook Islands Trunk, US Virgin Islands Honopu, Hawaii Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland Navagio Beach, Greece Balandra, Mexico Cala Goloritze, Italy Pipe Creek, Bahamas Pink, Indonesia Grace, Turks & Caicos Gardner, Ecuador Mcway, California Turquoise, Australia Le Morne, Mauritius Sancho, Brazil Seven Mile, Cayman Islands Lanikai, Hawaii Maya, Thailand Moro, Spain Kelingking, Indonesia Meads, Anguilla Flamenco, Puerto Rico Arena, Dominican Republic Little Hellfire, Australia Lazio, Seychelles Vaeroy, Norway Horseshoe, Bermuda Myrtos, Greece Hidden, Mexico Grand Anse, Grenada Xpu Ha, Mexico San Josef, Canada Matira, French Polynesia Capriccioli, Italy Pasjaca, Croatia Boulders, South Africa Salines, Martinique Champagne, Vanuatu Marinha, Portugal Balos, Greece Achmelvich, Scotland Kaputas, Turkey Radhangar, India Varadero, Cuba Piha, New Zealand Pink Sand, Bahamas
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Bombshell study reveals the travel companies still ignoring new rules on dodgy add-on costs - and how they could be breaking the law
We all know how frustrating shopping for flights and holidays online can sometimes be. You're reeled in by a very low price – and then end up with a much bigger figure by the time you get to the check-out, thanks to extra admin and booking fees. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act – a new law that came into force in April – was meant to stamp out those pesky add-on costs. But, in a new investigation, Which? has found that many well-known travel brands, including Megabus, Wowcher and loveholidays, are potentially breaking the law by ignoring or at least dragging their feet on the new rules. In the most extreme cases, travellers could find themselves paying hundreds of pounds more than the upfront price. When looking at booking a hotel resort using comparison sites Kayak and Trivago, Which? found a huge variation in prices between the cheapest and most expensive hotel deals, including at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. The experts at Which? found a week's stay in July was just £371 on loveholiday, while and both said the price is closer to £700. Loveholidays claimed its price 'includes hotel fees and local tourist tax'. When Which? contacted loveholidays, it admitted the price did not include the full hotel fees that and took into account. Instead, there was a staggering £257 extra to pay when you checked out. Excalibur, like most hotels in Las Vegas and many other hotels in the US and the Caribbean, has what it calls a 'resort fee' – a mandatory charge for services you may or may not use. This allows it to advertise a price that you pay in advance, and another hefty sum when you leave. This is legal - although heavily criticised even in the US - but websites aimed at the UK market are required to tell customers about these fees from the start, under the new DMCC Act. Which? claim that after the consumer champion contacted loveholidays in February, it tweaked the listing very slightly, removing the claim that its price includes hotel fees and adding the caveat 'depending on your hotel's policy, you may also be asked to pay additional hotel fees'. Which? also claims that loveholidays said it will ensure it is compliant with new laws before they come into effect but when the consumer champion checked in May, it claims this had not happened. It adds: 'Unlike many of its rivals, it still did not show the resort fee for the Excalibur.' Loveholidays' listing now says: 'Your hotel may charge additional fees, which must be paid there,' but does not reveal that these unavoidable fees could add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your stay. When Which? contacted loveholidays again, the holiday site apparently didn't give a statement but did suggest it was looking into showing resort fees in its prices. Until it does, Which? says it believes the company is breaking the law. Experts at Which? add: 'Some other less well-known sites are also failing to include resort fees but most of the big ones - including Expedia, and do include them.' Which? found a similar problem when it looked at holiday deals on discount website Wowcher. A week's summer holiday to Malta, which initially appeared to cost £1,278 had a £9.99 'administration fee' at the point of checkout. In February, Wowcher told Which? it was reviewing how its admin fees were implemented and would make sure it continued to comply with any applicable law. However, in May Wowcher was still applying the £9.99 admin fee, according to Which? Meanwhile, when Which? looked at budget coach company Megabus, it also found issues. The experts initially found a one-way ticket from London to Birmingham for a bargain £5.99 on the Megabus website, only to be hit with an extra £1.50 booking fee at checkout – putting the price up by 25 per cent to £7.49. Megabus told Which? in February that it would comply with any new regulation. However, when Which? checked again in May for a journey on the website,it claims a £1.50 booking fee still appeared just before payment. The experts at Which? add: 'The fee is not mentioned anywhere earlier in the purchasing process on the site. 'On the National Express website there is a disclaimer that headline prices exclude a £1.50 booking fee. This is clearer than Megabus.' Megabus told Which? that it's 'committed to offering transparent and affordable travel' and it would update its prices to ensure the booking fees are clearly shown at the start of the booking process by the end of May 2025. The DMCC Act means the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can issue fines of up to £300,000 or 10 per cent of worldwide turnover (whichever is higher) without having to go to court. Trading Standards can also enforce the rules. In the first 12 months of its enforcement the CMA has said that it will prioritise clear infringements of the law and practices that are particularly harmful to consumers. This includes 'fees that are hidden until late in the buying process,' among other issues. Which? believes that travel brands are still using these dodgy add-on fees to squeeze more money out of customers, which would be against the law. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'Sneaky fees and add-ons can significantly change the final price people pay for holidays and the difference between the advertised price and the final total can reach hundreds of pounds in the worst cases. 'We've uncovered examples of brands ignoring new rules that are there to protect customers from being hit with unexpected fees and we believe they could be breaking the law.' In response to Which?'s study, Megabus said: 'We are committed to offering transparent and affordable travel for our customers. 'We are currently making updates to our website - due to be completed by the end of this month - to ensure that all fees, including our £1.50 booking fee, are clearly highlighted at the start of the booking process. 'We fully support efforts to improve transparency in pricing across the travel industry and will continue to ensure our practices align with the latest regulations.' Wowcher added: 'Wowcher has implemented various changes to its website to ensure compliance with the DMCC Act. 'This has included providing an estimate of its variable admin fee within its pricing 'splat' which appears clearly and prominently on our deal pages prior to the customer reaching checkout. 'Our intention is to ensure that our website is clear and transparent for customers, allowing them to make purchase decisions with confidence on the Wowcher platform.'
BBC News
22-02-2025
- BBC News
Online scams: Family says security loophole has been exposed in holiday site
A family that was targeted by scammers fear their experience has exposed a security loophole in an online travel agent's booking Tyler, from County Antrim, unwittingly called a scam number when attempting to phone loveholidays about a booking and then shared details that allowed fraudsters to access her when trying to resolve the issue, Ms Tyler's daughter-in-law found she could access her mother's account even after log in details had been said she believed scammers "must be getting in again and again" because of an issue with the firm's authentication process, but loveholidays has backed its system. It told BBC Radio Ulster's Consumer Fight Back programme it was sorry to hear about Ms Tyler's experience but it was "confident that the industry standard two-factor authentication process ensures our platform and our customers' data is secure". How did the holiday scam work? Marion Tyler had booked a holiday through for herself, her daughter and two grandchildren to Lanzarote in August. When she wanted to pay off some of her balance, she phoned a number, from an online search, that she believed to be the firm but was actually a scam company. The scammers tricked Ms Tyler into thinking she was speaking to loveholidays and she shared personal details that allowed them to access her account."I genuinely believed it was loveholidays, because she knew all the details of our holiday," said Ms Tyler."She knew right down to the flight times, she knew everything." After moving Ms Tyler to a WhatsApp conversation, scammers tricked her into transferring £2,000, saying it would save her money on her when Ms Tyler rang the real loveholidays the next day to confirm her remaining balance, she was told the firm had not received any payment from her."I actually felt sick. I was in a state of panic," she said."I was absolutely gutted and devastated. It really did affect me and I didn't sleep. I was annoyed at myself for being stupid enough to do it and for falling for it. "It's soul destroying, how easily they were able to access it and get that very definite information about the holiday."Ms Tyler alerted loveholidays to the scam and was advised to change the email address on her booking and add a while she was on the call with loveholidays, changes were made to her booking - scammers were changing the destination of her holiday and the passenger Tyler's family feared even after updating their security details, scammers could still access her booking. 'I was in shock' Her daughter-in-law, Marie Tyler, took over and contacted that call, she opened her internet browser and logged on to the firm's website - having previously used the computer to access her mother-in-law's account, she expected to have to log-in again as the account details had been her surprise, however, the site brought her straight into Ms Tyler's booking. "I was in shock," Marie Tyler said."I was getting ready to get the verification link sent over to me. I thought: 'I'm in!'"She said she told loveholidays' customers service team that the scammers "must be getting in again and again because you're not reauthenticating people". The family has reported the scam to Action Fraud and contacted the Information Commissioner's Officer over their data protection concerns. They are also working with their bank to recover the told Consumer Fight Back they were "sorry to hear about Marion's experience after calling a number that was not associated with loveholidays and, unfortunately, falling victim to a scam"."The fraudster managed to maintain access to her booking through their cache. We have been in touch with the family and have secured the booking by transferring it to a new account with a new reference number," the company said."We are confident that the industry standard two-factor authentication process ensures our platform and our customers' data is secure, with the issue, in this case, stemming from the customer handing this access over to the scammer."The firm said it had "initiated further steps" should future customers find themselves in a similar position, including improving internal processes "to ensure access to the account is immediately revoked when we are alerted that a customer's account is compromised". 'We have to put it in perspective' Ms Tyler still hopes to go on the holiday later this year with her daughter and grandchildren."I'm actually really still annoyed about it."It's not pleasant, it's not nice and it's a lot of money, but it's not the worst thing that can happen in your life."We have to put it in perspective. What else can you do?"You can listen to the full story on Consumer Fight Back with Holly Hamilton on BBC Sounds.
