Latest news with #waterhammock
The Sun
28-07-2025
- The Sun
I'm obsessed with the £3.99 Lidl middle aisle holiday buy that is taking over hotel pools this summer
THERE'S a trend sweeping family hotel pools this summer - and no, I'm not talking about sun lounger hogging. At my TUI Village hotel in Turkey last week, I spotted more than a hundred 'water hammocks' that were identical to the one I bought from the Lidl middle aisle in June. The pool accessory works like a lilo, with inflatable tubes at each end and a mesh in the middle where your body lies. On a trip to Spain last month, the story was the same - the water hammock reigned supreme at the hotel pool. A straw poll of parents lounging by the pool in Turkey showed that the majority of them also picked theirs up for £3.99 from Lidl - the Blue Crivit Water Hammock. However, a decent proportion also bought theirs from Amazon, where a two-pack in pink and blue will set you back £15.99, or alternatively, John Lewis is selling a chic palm print version for £9.60. I only bought one in the Lidl flash sale, but I'll be stocking up on more next year because they make the perfect foreign holiday lilo. Why? Because the fact that most of it's mesh - not bulky plastic - means that it's super lightweight and packs into a tiny space in the suitcase. Gone are the days when I reluctantly shell out a fortune abroad, because I didn't have the space or kg allowance to take an inflatable on the plane with me. I could easily take three in a suitcase and barely notice them in the bag. The minimal inflatable space also means a: far less time to blow up, b: it takes up a lot less space in the hotel room and is easy to transport to and from the pool or beach, and c: there is less surface space for punctures. Speaking of travel hacks, 2025 was also the year that I finally tried out packing cubes, and I can't believe it took me so long. On a 14-day multi-stop trip to South Africa in April, there was no way I could do my usual unpack-the-moment-I-check-in routine, given that we were staying in eight different places. So I bought a few sets of 12 for £9 from Amazon, and everything was painstakingly divided up into different cubes - one for my son's T-shirts, one for shorts, one for my sweaters... and so on. 2 It made the experience so much simpler, because everything was easy to find within 3 seconds of opening up the suitcase - with no rifling around. Since then, I've reverted to emptying the bag as soon as I arrive if it's a one-stop holiday, but anything with more than two locations or less than three nights will have me reaching for the packing cubes from now on.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Lidl is selling a £4 pool must-have for your summer holiday & it's £8 cheaper than a John Lewis version
FROM sunny holidays to daily trips to the local pool planned, there's no better way to cool off this summer than taking a dip. With a budget-friendly buy from the Lidl middle aisle, you can enhance your swimming experience even further. 3 This handy item makes your pool time more relaxing, and it can be easily thrown into your towel bag this summer. If you enjoy floating on your back and lapping up the sun, this buy may be for you. The Blue Crivit Water Hammock is available for just £3.99 from the middle aisle. It is described as a "comfortable lying surface made of soft mesh for cooling off in the water". Simply inflate the two roll-up air chambers on either side and lie back and enjoy. This hammock is designed to be "flexible and comfortable" when used in water. And you don't have to worry about your other pool items prodding the hammock in your bag as it comes with one repair patch. The maximum weight for users is 100kg while the hammock measure 120 cm by 72cm when inflated. As with most middle aisle buys, this item comes with a three-year warranty. Water hammocks have proved a popular summer accessory, with John Lewis also jumping on the trend. The clever way you can ensure your paddling pool is kept warm However, the Swim Essentials Inflatable Water Hammock with Tropical Leaves is slightly pricier, at £12. Be sure to use these inflatable buys in pool settings only or under supervision. Flotation devices can be dangerous when used on open waters as currents can cause unnoticed drifting. The water hammocks are recommended for children aged six and older. You can also pick up a budget buy from Home Bargains that will keep your children entertained in the pool all summer. Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer: How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency. "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: ' Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. ' Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult. "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. ' Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second." Remember to compare prices It is important to remember to always shop around when buying something like this as you might find a cheaper alternative. Websites like Trolley and Price Spy let you compare thousands of products across different retailers to find the best price. Price Spy even lets you see how much an item has cost over time, so you can see if the current price is a good deal. A quick scan on the Google Shopping/Product tab will also bring up how much retailers are selling a certain item for. 3
