Fancy a jaunt to Europe this Spring?

If you’re planning a getaway, Eurostar is often the most convenient way to get to the continent, with trains running to popular city break destinations like Paris and Amsterdam.

And in an exciting turn of events, the train company has launched a huge flash sale, with £35 off selected routes.

But, you’ll have to be quick. The sale will last for a handful of days, ending on April 3 at 22:59.

Which destinations can you book tickets to in the Eurostar flash sale?

The cheap tickets are only available for travel from:

• London and Paris, Lille, Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Brussels between April 23 and July 9, 2025.

How cheap are tickets in the Eurostar flash sale?

Eurostar say that £35 is for a Eurostar Standard one-way ticket from London to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

We headed to the Eurostar website to check it out, and there are indeed £35 tickets to be had. Tickets for a long weekend in Paris in May (May 3 to May 6) could be purchased for £35 each way (£70 return), while you can get to Lille for the same price the weekend (May 9 to May 12).

You might have to be a little flexible with your times though. The cheap £35 tickets tend to be available for either early morning or evening routes. On May 3, Eurostar currently only offers £35 tickets from London to Paris at 07:01pm.

However, on the return trip on May 6, you have more choice, with £35 tickets available between 07:12am and 05:10pm.

It’s hard to believe that the idea of the Channel Tunnel itself – the world’s longest undersea tunnel at 31.5 miles long – was actually first conceived way back in 1802, although construction didn’t start until 1988.

Since the high-speed train service began over 30 years ago, connecting the UK to mainland Europe, the fleet of 28 trains has carried an estimated 150 million passengers.

It was finally completely in 1993, and the Eurostar began its service in November 1994.

The best things to do in Lille

While you might have already been to Paris or Amsterdam, Lille is an often overlooked French city that has lots to offer tourists looking for a fun city break. Previously speaking to Metro, Sarah Ewing shared her top tips when visiting:

Don’t leave without: With its Flemish heritage and 17th-century red-brick townhouses, charming Lille has a vibrant art scene. La Piscine de Roubaix is an art museum in a former swimming pool – and a must-see.

Transport advice: The most efficient public transport options are trams and buses.

Best-kept secret: France might be famed for its wine, but Lille is the country’s beer capital, home to historic craft breweries. It hosts a beer festival every September – last year, there were 100 events dedicated to craft beer in bars, restaurants and breweries.

Budget tips: Looking to bring a taste of France home that won’t break the bank? Visit Marché Wazemmes on Place de la Nouvelle – it’s one of the biggest markets in France, selling produce, beautiful gifts like honey and soaps, and is a great place to get lunch-to-go.

Where to eat: ‘L’Atelier Street Food is great value and known for its pre-match atmosphere. Soho Urban Food is a contemporary buffet-style restaurant with a great brunch and cocktails.

Where to stay: Hôtel Brueghel is centrally located and close to Gare Lille Flandres.

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As a frequent visitor to Dubai, I find myself regularly defending the city.

I’ve written about its varied food scene, desert scenery and local markets — urging travellers to reconsider all they think they know about what is often described as a ‘soulless’ and ‘superficial’ destination.

And so when I headed to Dubai earlier this year, there was one place at the of top my must-visit list, not least to prove yet again that there’s more to this famous emirate than meets the eye.

Located 90 minutes southeast of the city lies Hatta, nicknamed ‘the highlands of Dubai’. Formerly an Omani territory, the same Hajar Mountains that hug Hatta dam, also stretch into Oman. The place started life as a farming village, and is one of the oldest preserved heritage areas in the UAE.

When I first visited Hatta in the late 90s, it felt like the middle-of-nowhere. An ill-fated trip that involved a dead car battery and a mountain rescue made it feel all the more isolated.

But Hatta is enjoying a glow-up, with Dubai officials positioning it as a major tourist attraction — and it’s easy to see why it’s beloved by locals and tourists alike.

Things to do in Hatta

Hatta dam is perhaps the most popular spot for tourists. You can hire kayaks or a variety of different boats, depending on the size of your party (and how much effort you want to put in).

With the Emirati sun beating down, my group and I opted for a donut boat, which had an awning for shade and plenty of room for four adults and one child — we could have fitted more. For the equivalent of £60, we floated around the beautiful dam, taking in the stunning scenery for an hour.

While I was happy to relax on the water, there’s plenty for those looking for adventure. Bikes can be rented to explore the mountains, and there are myriad hiking trails.

The newly opened Aerial Adventure Park has the UAE’s only 12m ‘giant swing’, three zip-line experiences, and a bag jump where you free-fall onto a giant crash bag. There are different packages on offer depending which attraction you choose to swing, jump or hurl yourself off from.

Back on solid ground, a trip to Hatta Honeybee Garden and Discovery Centre is another fun excursion. The largest producer of honey in the UAE, it’s home to 4,000 bee colonies, which produce 20 tonnes of honey per season. Admission is just £10, and guests can don a beekeeping suit to get up close and personal with the buzzing creatures.

For animals that don’t sting, head to The Camel Farm, located inside the Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve (general admission is just £6). As well as a chance to ride the camels or try camel hugging therapy, you’ll also see other desert creatures, including gazelles, oryxes, and desert foxes.

And history buffs can learn all about Hatta’s past at the Hatta Heritage Village, and climb the towers of its centrepiece, Hatta Fort, built in 1896, for panoramic views of the region.

Where to eat in Hatta

Al Hajarain restaurant on the edge of Hatta’s heritage village is a top-rated spot, for good reason.

Opt for a seat outside under the awnings for a cool al fresco meal. The vibes here are friendly and laid-back with families and couples alike enjoying traditional Arabic fayre.

When in Dubai, you can’t go wrong with ordering a mixed grill, and the arayes here (a kind of meat-stuffed crispy pita) were particularly good. Sides of hummus and fattoush are also a must, and one of my favourite things to eat when I’m in the UAE.

Prices were reasonable too. Two mixed grills for £30 each were more than enough for five adults and one child (we had leftovers).

The restaurant was dry, but there’s fresh lemon mint juice on the menu (about £3) to quench your thirst.

How to get to Hatta from Dubai

For those staying in Dubai, getting to Hatta takes a bit of effort. If you’re willing to brave the city’s roads, you can hire a car and make the scenic 90-minute drive. Alternatively, you can take the Hatta Express bus.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) runs a shuttle from Dubai Mall to the Hatta Bus station for only 25AED (£5).

The journey takes an hour and 15 minutes, and operates every two hours from 7am to 7pm. You can get the same bus back, with the last leaving Hatta at 7pm.

The future of Hatta

In 2021, Sheikh Mohammed announced plans to transform Hatta into a major tourist destination.

Already, there have been dramatic changes. A Hollywood-style Hatta sign now sits on the Hajar Mountains, and what was once a make-shift carpark has been paved over to make way for a small shopping area, with empty buildings awaiting their retailers.

A huge waterfall rolls down the hillside against the world’s largest mosaic — an image of Dubai’s founding fathers. Future plans include a small beach and a mountain railway, and a new cable car route will offer tourists a unique way to view the area.

For those keen to explore an untouched gem, you might want to book your trip to Hatta now. But it’s no surprise that this beautiful area is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Where to stay in Hatta

If you’re not content with a day trip to the region, book a stay at JA Hatta Fort, Dubai’s only mountain resort.

Perfect for adventurers, the hotel can arrange activities for you in Hatta, including kayaking and mountain biking.

There’s an adult-only pool, but it’s family-friendly too, with large grounds perfect for an evening stroll — you can spot some of the hotel’s resident tortoises and rabbits too.

It’s also pet friendly, and the hotel will provide food and water bowls for your furry friends should you wish to bring them along.

The rooms are spacious and cosy, with a natural aesthetic: think beamed ceilings and wooden accents. Soak up the sun on your balcony, and enjoy a delicious breakfast outside at Café Gazebo, which has panoramic views of the mountains. There’s also a spa when you need a well-earned break from being outdoorsy.

Low season (June – September) rates start from £75, while high season rates (January – June and September – December) start from £150.

For more information visit their website.

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No cinema trip is complete without a Tango Ice Blast.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan once declared the drink to be ‘unadulterated joy’, and dreamt of having his very own machine at home.

And now, fans can finally enjoy the drink without heading to the big screen, as it returns to UK supermarkets in a ready-to-drink version.

Budget retailer B&M, which is famous for rare food finds, will be one of the stores offering the new drinks, along with Nisa, Spar, Co-op, Iceland and Home Bargains.

And the best part? The drinks costs just £3.35 for a 2L bottle.

While fans of Tango Ice Blast regularly praise the drink, one major problem is repeatedly raised: the price.

‘I love Tango Ice Blasts but why do they have to cost like 50 grand?’ lamented one X user. Others said they’re charged a ‘whole house’ to get their hands on the drink.

The cost of the slushy treat varies, but they’re currently available on Uber Eats for £5.99, while some cinema go-ers have reported paying up to £9.

This new supermarket offering though will be more than half the price, and while it won’t be icy, it will come in the same tangy flavours die-hard fans know and love: cherry and raspberry.

The Cherry and Raspberry Blast drinks were briefly in stores last year, but they’ll be returning in a surprise drop from tomorrow, available for just six months. A statement shared today warned ‘run don’t walk because once they’re gone, they’re really gone.’

When the drinks were last on shelves, reviewers had pretty positive comments. Instagram reviewer, John from @johnssnackreviews, who shares his no holds barred thoughts on a variety of new products, gave both drinks a 7/10, adding: ‘Worth trying but just a touch too weak on flavour for me.’

The 500ml bottles will be found from April 1 at Nisa, Spar and Co-op for just £2.15, while 2L varieties can be picked up in Iceland, B&M and Home Bargains for £3.35.

Victoria Burridge, Tango brand manager, said: ‘We’ve heard our fans’ cries and are thrilled to bring back Tango Cherry Blast and Raspberry Blast after they flew off the shelves when first launched last year.

‘Guaranteed to deliver that iconic hit of fruity Tang, they’re returning as a limited time drop so fans will need to hurry!’

The Blasts aren’t the only bargain product to be arriving in supermarkets recently.

Lidl fans were sent into a frenzy when the budget retailer launched Mini Egg Brownies in its beloved bakery, which cost just 89p each. 

The new item features a brownie base, and appears to have a layer of chocolate on top which is covered in pieces of colourful crushed Mini Eggs.

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‘I was depressed and anxious,’ says Suzanna Brusikiewicz. ‘I thought my dating life was over, my sex life was over, and that I’d never feel normal again.’

Suzanna, from Canada, was 34 when she was told that an ingrown hair was actually HSV-2, the strain of the herpes virus which spreads by sexual contact, and causes genital herpes.

If you’ve ever had an STI, you’re not alone. In 2023, 401,800 people in England were diagnosed with a new STI (a 5% increase from the year before), many of which can be swiftly treated – antibiotics or creams can cure the likes of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital warts.

But herpes is different. There is no known cure, and the virus remains in your body for the rest of your life.

Yes, it sounds scary, and Suzanna says her own diagnosis initially left her feeling so ‘freaked out’, that she thought about suicide.

But the reality of herpes is very different. ‘It doesn’t really impact my daily life at all,’ Suzanna says.

‘And it’s so common. Most people will get herpes at some point in their life and you’ll probably never know.’

There are two types of herpes virus: HSV-1, the main cause of oral herpes, and HSV-2, the main cause of genital herpes.

The infection can cause sores or blisters – which often occur during a ‘flare up’ – but many people are asymptomatic, and my never know they have it. In fact, seven out of 10 people will have caught one type of the herpes virus by the age of 25, and an estimated 491 million people aged 15 – 49 worldwide have HSV-2.

It’s caught by skin contact and transmission is very likely if bumps are present – and while not very likely when there aren’t symptoms, it’s still possible. People who have HSV-1 can also transmit it to the genital area through oral sex.

As Suzanna says, ‘a small percentage of people get flare ups, and we’re the ones who carry the burden of the stigma.’

‘I thought it would be debilitating’

Suzanna first noticed what she thought was a pimple or an ingrown hair during a trip to visit a long distance boyfriend.

She tells Metro: ‘A couple of days into the trip I noticed the bump, and it hurt a little, but I didn’t think much of it.

‘I headed back home and it started to hurt me, and I also had some pain in that area as well. I just thought I was a little sore from being intimate with my boyfriend, or that I was getting a UTI.’

But when the bump became a blister, the alarm bells started to ring.

‘I went to a women’s health clinic. This was a day or two later, and I already had a few more blisters on my vagina.

‘They took a swab and a week later, they confirmed I had HSV-2, genital herpes.

‘I just burst out crying. I was very distressed.’

Suzanna says medics tried to reassure her that she had an extremely common infection. ‘I remember one nurse literally asked me outright why I was so upset. She was literally like, “it’s not that big of a deal.” But at the time, I just thought “How can it not be?”‘

In the weeks and months that followed, Suzanna’s mental health suffered. ‘I thought it would be debilitating,’ she says. ‘I thought no one would be interested in me or attracted to me.’

Suzanna told her then boyfriend shortly after her diagnosis. ‘I was actually worried and afraid that he would break up with me – I wasn’t even thinking that I might have got it from him. It can be hard to trace back when you caught it, as herpes can lay dormant for years, or even your whole life.

‘When I told him he was very accepting and understanding.’

About a year later, the pair split up. ‘I found out that he’d been cheating and lying for the duration of our relationship.’

It was around this time that Suzanna also told friends and family about her herpes status, with a view to go public online. ‘Even at my lowest point, I always had an inkling I might speak publicly about this,’ she says. ‘I wanted to help other people.’

Suzanna says it took her a while to work up the courage to date. ‘I started by telling people on apps, as it felt easier. I was pleasantly surprised to find most people weren’t worried, or didn’t mind or weren’t afraid of it – and if they didn’t know much about it, they were keen to learn.

‘They appreciated my honesty, and saw it as a green flag.’

In March 2021, she posted on Instagram about having herpes – since then, her presence online has taken off, and she has over 300,000 followers on TikTok.

She says: ‘Herpes has very little impact on my daily life. It’s probably on my mind more than the average person, because I talk about it so much online.

‘There have been times when I have had more frequent flare ups – I used to have them every month as they can be triggered by stress and fluctuations in your hormones, as well as lifestyle factors like food.

‘But there are periods where I don’t get them at all. I also have periods where I take daily antiviral medication, which also reduces the frequency of the flare ups.

‘Most people get them a few times a year.’

Now, Suzanna is dedicated to breaking down the stigma surrounding herpes.

‘There’s this idea that if you have herpes you’re sleeping around, you’re not honest or responsible.

‘We look at herpes so differently when it’s oral – most people get it as kids when we’re kissed by our relatives.

‘But then when that person becomes an adult, and goes down on their partner and that partner gets genital herpes, they’re stigmatised for having an STI. It’s non sensical.’

In the UK, herpes isn’t routinely screened for in sexual health tests, unless you have symptoms – it can’t be checked for if you don’t have signs of the infection.

‘The mental health impact of knowing you have it, can be worse than having the actual virus itself,’ says Suzanna. ‘We need to break down this stigma.’

‘I’ve embraced it as an opportunity to teach others’

It’s a sentiment that sex educator, Emily Depasse, from the USA, agrees with. She had just graduated from university, with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies, when she was diagnosed with herpes.

She explains: ‘I had been sleeping with my partner for around two weeks.

‘There was one morning where I was like, something feels very different in my vagina. It sounds really silly, but I had got a new pair of underwear and it was a thong and I thought, maybe it rubbed me the wrong way.’

Emily called her mum, who suggested she go to the doctor.

‘The immediate reaction that the doctor had was, “this looks like herpes”. In that moment, it was, “oh, sh*t”.

‘Even with a background in sex education, I felt embarrassed, I felt shame, I felt disgust. And it was really painful, because I had lesions in my vaginal canal.’

‘You just think, this is incurable. You have it forever.’

At first, Emily says she felt some anger towards her partner – but has more compassion in hindsight. ‘I really don’t think he knew,’ she says. ‘There is a part of me that was very angry, but I’ve moved on. And I really think it was just a lack of education.’

In the aftermath of her diagnosis, Emily says she went through a ‘period of solitude.’

‘It impacted my work life and my overall self worth. I leant on alcohol way too much. I was really struggling. It was a very isolating experience.’

But Emily was also keen to talk about her herpes status. ‘I remember actually emailing my supervisor after I got the diagnosis. I wrote, “I can’t come into work today, because I tested positive for an STI, and I’m really not doing well.”

‘For me, it was important to be vulnerable and sort of speak it into existence.’

Emily says her relationship with her partner shifted after her diagnosis, and the pair split six months later, but she says friends and family helped her accept it.

She says: ‘You look at the stereotype of people with STIs or herpes and you compare yourself you’re like, “Am I this person? Do I fit into this?”

‘It was really important to have that external validation from people who knew me and could say, “Emily, regardless, you’re still you.”‘

Emily also takes antivirals and has learned the triggers that can indicate a flare up. ‘Stress is a big one for me,’ she says. ‘I’ve gone two or three years without having any symptomatic outbreaks.

‘I can feel the symptoms coming on, it’s kind of like a tingly sensation. And so I’ll just take a pill and it will either not come up or it will I’ll have very minimal symptoms.’

Emily, who had already studied sexuality, used her experience as a way to learn more about herpes.

She says: ‘I embraced it as an opportunity to learn and teach others. So, like many millennials in that time, I started writing about it. I had a blog and I made a Facebook post and I felt very empowered.’

As far as dating goes, Emily is also open with potential partners. ‘I’ve always talked to people about it.

‘I’ve only ever had one person reject me. I find a lot of people want to know more before they make a decision. They want to be educated. That’s totally reasonable and wonderful.’

At one point, Emily did join a herpes-only dating app, but felt that only served to heighten the stigma.

‘After I was diagnosed, I felt I was only going to be able to ever date someone else with herpes.

‘It was a way for people to avoid rejection and confrontation, but it doesn’t necessarily support communication with your partners. These apps are just basically reaffirming that people with herpes only should date people with herpes.’

Now, Emily is also committed to breaking down stigma. She says: ‘I do most of my educating on Instagram and TikTok.

‘The one thing I want people to encourage people to do is just pause before they have a reaction to the idea of someone having herpes.

‘Before you think: “I would never sleep with someone with herpes”, just stop and think. Do your research.’

This article was originally published on January 4, 2024.

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Remember Blockbuster? If you’re under the age of 18, you probably don’t.

The famous store disappeared from the UK high street back in 2013, as trips to the ‘video shop’ were replaced with scrolling through Netflix.

Now, Blockbuster leaves us nostalgic for a simpler time, when you’d wait for months to finally watch a film you’d missed in the cinema, and your mum would let you rent a video for a sleepover with your mates.

But you don’t have to reminisce for much longer as, for a limited time only, Blockbuster is back on the UK high street.

In collaboration with KitKat, Blockbuster will be reopening in London’s Soho.

The pop-up store is to celebrate the launch of KitKat’s sharing bars, which come in three flavours: double chocolate, salted caramel and hazelnut.

Open from April 9th to 12th, visitors will be greeted with rows of the iconic blue and yellow video cases, and a chill out zone with retro televisions.

The video renting experience has had a bit of a 2025 upgrade though.

You can choose a movie, and take the empty VHS case to the counter, where you’ll be given a streaming code for your chosen film. You’ll also get a free KitKat sharing bar to tuck into while you watch.

Stephanie Scales, marketing manager for KitKat at Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: ‘It’s more important than ever to stay connected with others in today’s hectic world.

‘Whether it’s with friends, family or loved ones, we want to take the nation back to when times were simpler and reclaim the joy of picking out a movie to watch together.

‘By KitKat sharing bars partnering with Blockbuster to take cosy nights in together to another level, we hope that we can help Brits properly savour their downtime and break better!’

Blockbuster’s mini-return comes in the wake of news that another much-missed could soon be making a comeback.

Earlier this month, Topshop whipped shoppers up into a frenzy with some cryptic Instagram posts.

The iconic fashion brand uploaded three clips, with captions that together read: ‘We’ve been listening.’

One clip also featured the words: ‘We’ve missed you too.’

It’s been four years since Big Topshop, aka their flagship Oxford Street store, closed its doors, and many are still grieving. The social media posts left fans wondering if a bricks and mortar store could be returning.

However, the retailer revealed that the ‘first phase’ of their ‘much anticipated return’ was the relaunch of Topshop.com, and at this stage, have no updates on the launch of a store.

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Some say jet lag is a state of mind, while others spend their long-haul holidays falling asleep at noon and asking: ‘But what time is it, really?’

It’s the only downside to seeing the world, and travellers have spent decades trying to avoid it.

Some drink copious cups of coffee, or eat lots of bananas (yes, really, it’s the potassium). Others take sleeping pills, but these can be addictive, and have varying degrees of success.

So, when I flew more than 10,500 miles from London to Sydney, I assumed I would have to accept my fate – that is, until an Australian colleague recommended the app Timeshifter and, spoiler, it changed my life.

How does the Timeshifter app work?

Timeshifter is the brainchild of tech entrepreneurs Mickey Beyer-Clausen and Jacob Ravn, along with Dr Steven W Lockley, an expert in circadian rhythms who supports NASA astronaut training.

Your circadian rhythm is better known as your body clock, and when you cross time zones, this gets disrupted.

According to Timeshifter, the app combines ‘the only elements shown to reset the circadian clock’, (light-dark exposure and melatonin) along with those that ‘alleviate the symptoms’ (light, melatonin, caffeine and naps).

The concept is simple. You put in your flight date and time, and a schedule is created for you. Your first plan is free, then it’s $9.99 (£7.97) per plan or
a $24.99 (£19.94) subscription which offers unlimited plans for a year.

You’ll be told when to sleep, take naps, get (or avoid) light exposure, and when to drink coffee or chug supplements.

Given that melatonin is prescription-only in the UK, I wouldn’t be taking it – but you can give Timeshifter this info, and your schedule is adjusted accordingly.

Putting Timeshifter to the test

I was due to fly at 9am on a Sunday, so I was surprised when my schedule started on the Friday before. I was instructed to be up by 7am, and go to bed before 10pm.

On the Saturday, those timings shifted by an hour, so I was up at 6am (on a Saturday), and in bed for 9pm.

Then came the day of my flight, where I had to set my alarm for 3am. This felt cruel, given I didn’t need to leave for the airport until 5.30am.

Timeshifter also told me to get straight on the caffeine, which at this point was pretty much a necessity.

I also needed light, but, erm, it was dark. So I switched on every light in my flat and hoped that would have the same effect.

Things started to get a bit weird when I boarded my flight at 9am. By this time I wasn’t allowed to have caffeine, while my fellow passengers were on the espressos.

However, I trusted the process, and when it was time to go to sleep at 3pm London time, I actually felt pretty snoozy.

Timeshifter told me to sleep for an hour before arriving in Doha at 4pm UK time, or 6pm local time. I should have slept at the airport, but the anxious part of me was too scared about missing the connecting flight, so I stayed awake.

Two hours later (8pm in Doha) I was on another plane (it would be a mammoth 14-hour journey), and it was time to go back to sleep. Again, this is easier said than done; I had some food and watched an hour or so of Ocean’s 11 before finally dozing off.

I’ll admit, the military schedule adds a level of pressure that doesn’t make relaxing easy. But, I stuck to it as best I could, and was only ever about an hour or so out of my plan.

I had to set an alarm to wake up after six hours, and, as under orders from Timeshifter, start pounding the caffeine. Again, this felt a bit counter-intuitive. It was the dead of night in both the UK and Doha, and almost all my fellow passengers were sleeping.

Still, I did as I was told, and watched Oceans 8 and 12 before my final scheduled nap six hours later (8am in Doha). By this stage, I honestly had no idea what time it was, so I was grateful to have Timeshifter making decisions for me.

After an hour, I was waking as the plane started to descend, and it was 5pm in Sydney. And, somehow, I felt… fine?

The verdict

Emerging from a 14-hour flight, I was definitely giving Andy Dufresne as he escaped from Shawshank. But while I might have had cabin fever, and a crick in my neck, I genuinely wasn’t tired.

At the hotel, I ate dinner without falling asleep in my pasta, and then, it was time for bed.

As we walked back to our hotel rooms, my friends commented that they were wide awake, given it was morning back in the UK, but I was more than ready for lights out.

How did I sleep? Like a log.

The following morning, my fellow travellers commented on their eventful nights. One even got up at 3am, and took a ferry around Sydney Harbour at sunrise. Meanwhile, I was sleeping soundly.

While others spent the next few days groaning and popping sleeping pills, I was feeling pretty smug about my Timeshifter experience.

Since then, I’ve been raving about it anyone that will listen. If you’re travelling long haul, I can’t recommend it enough.

This article was originally published on February 18.

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Jet2 have launched a brand new flight from Newcastle to Chambéry, France, making them the first airline to offer this route to travellers.

We might still be waiting for summer to arrive, but the budget airline is already expanding its winter schedule for 2025 to 2026.

Three new routes are coming as part of their ‘massive’ expansion, perfect for those looking for a festive break this December.

Two Christmas markets services from Bristol to Gdańsk and Berlin will start in November, as well as the first of its kind Newcastle International to Chambéry Airport route.

While Chambéry might not be top of your list, the Alpine city in south-east France could be ideal for skiers, thanks to its easy access to nearby resorts.

While Lonely Planet comments that ‘attractive’ Chambéry is ‘often forgotten by visitors to the French Alps’ there is plenty to do here.

Dubbed France’s ‘Italian town’, the place was under Italian rule from the 13th to the 16th centuries. As such, visitors will find colourful buildings, large squares and an abundance of vermouth, pasta dishes and polenta.

It’s Italian links have also led travellers to comment on Chambéry’s laid-back feel, with Conde Nast Traveller describing the place as having an ‘easygoing, aperitivo-o’clock vibe.’

Perhaps its most quirky feature is the network of ‘traboules’, or ‘the alleyways’, which are corridor-like passageways that run through and under Chambéry’s grand Old Town buildings.

And, you’ll also spot plenty of elephants on Chambéry’s streets — yes, really. The Fontaine Des Éléphants, was built to honour an esteemed military general, and features four large statues of the animals.

There’s also an elephant trail around the city, which takes you to the main tourist spots, each marked with a tiny elephant.

Flights are currently available to book on Jet2.com from Newcastle to Chambéry, starting on December 20 2025. One flight a week is currently scheduled to depart from the airport every Saturday at 2.40pm, with the cheapest available tickets currently priced at £69.

As well as the new routes, Jet2 are also adding 96,000 seats, which will be available to book for November 2025 to March 2026.

Jet2 and Jet2 Holidays have also expanded their winter sun programme to a list of popular European tourist hotspots, including the Algarve, Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: ‘We are seeing continued demand for our award-winning flights and holidays and with winter 2025-26 looking so popular, we are in the position to respond with a massively expanded programme.

‘As well as offering three brand-new routes, we are also putting additional capacity on sale to popular destinations and extending the winter season.

‘Such an expansion would not be possible without customers choosing to travel with us in huge numbers, so I would like to sincerely thank our customers and independent travel agent partners for their continued support.’

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Ryanair has launched a new subscription service that promises to give discounts to frequent travellers.

The new scheme which launched Monday March 24 is called Prime, and offers passengers discounts that the budget airline say could add up to £420 a year.

Ryanair Prime costs £79 per year, and will include member benefits such as free reserved seats, free travel insurance and access to 12 annual member-exclusive seat sales (one booking per month).

Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said: ‘Ryanair “Prime” is a new subscriber discount scheme for frequent flyers that want to fly regularly but don’t want to break the bank to do so.’

The CEO says the ‘modest’ £79 will deliver ‘great savings’, putting the total amount saved at £420 for members who fly 12 times per year.

So, let’s crunch the numbers.

If a passenger buys reserved seats on 12 flights per year, that amounts to £120. Travel insurance for those same flights would cost £180. On top of that, Ryanair say a traveller would save a minimum of £120 (£10 per seat) on 12 seats bought in a sale. Add that together and you get £420.

Even if you don’t fly that frequently, it’s still a good deal, according to the budget airline. Ryanair say that even if you only fly three times a year, you’ll still save £105.

Some passengers have been thrilled by news of the new scheme. Metro reader Angela Keating said: ‘For frequent flyers, it’s a good deal.’ While Chris Robinson said: ‘That’s a game-changer for people who travel a lot. Just think of all the extra holidays you could afford!’

And Sonia Burmby said: ‘Love Ryanair! Flown with them for years…..does exactly what it says on the tin!’

Dara Brady added: ‘Ryanair has been delivering the lowest fares (and the best services) in Europe for the last four decades, and we’re now extending our price leadership with the launch of our exciting new subscriber discount scheme.

So, if you like flying regularly while also saving money, then Ryanair ‘Prime’ is a no-brainer.’

The discount scheme is limited to just just 250,000 customers on a first come, first served basis, so head to Ryanair.com if you want to sign up.

Ryanair isn’t the only budget airline to offer travellers even more discounts.

Wizz Air has an ‘all you can fly’ scheme, for £495 (€599) for a yearly membership.

For your cash, you get access to unlimited flights to 200 destinations in over 50 countries, although you still need to pay a flat fee of £8.27 (€9.99) per booking.

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Every parent knows that a trip to the park can put even the moodiest threenager in a good mood.

And while there’s nothing wrong with a bog standard set of a swings and a slide, Adventure Play in Windsor ought to be on your radar.

The hand-crafted playground within Windsor Great Park, less than 30 miles outside of London, features slides, walkways and treehouses.

It opened in June 2023, and features the UK’s first roller slide – rather than a typical smooth metal slide, children slide down a series of rollers.

There’s also rope bridges, towers and whimsical sculptures in the shape of flowers, acorns and giant musical instruments.

Kids between the ages of two to 12 can explore the fantastical land, described on the park’s website as a place that gets children ‘close to nature, challenging the body and stimulating the senses.’

The website also states that the park is ‘not just for children,’ adding that ‘all are welcome, whatever their age, need or ability.’

And when the little ones need refueling, there’s also the Adventure Play cafe, which serves up hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, and children’s packed lunch boxes. 

Since opening, the park has welcomed 130,000 visitors, many of whom have glowing reviews.

‘Magical!’ wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer. ‘The playground is beautifully and thoughtfully designed and built, down to the last detail. We went for our kids (two to four years) but we all ended up climbing, exploring and shooting down the slides with them.’

A second added: ‘We were really surprised by how lovely this adventure playground is, it is a “wow” moment as you enter and my children were fully entertained.’

While another dubbed it ‘well thought out’ and ‘unrivalled.’

Guests do have one main criticism, though: the cost.

Unfortunately, Adventure Play comes with a price tag. For two hours of play, tickets for children aged between two to 17 are £16 during peak times, and £13 off-peak.

At least one adult for every four children, including infants (under two), is required to be able to enter Adventure Play, and peak adult tickets come in at £12, or £10 for off-peak.

As such, reviewers have also dubbed it ‘ridiculously overpriced’, while another added that ‘£12 for an adult is extortion.’

Windsor Great Park has addressed the criticism online though. Responding to TripAdvisor, noting that the price includes car parking.

They added: ‘Prior to the launch of Adventure Play, our teams conducted extensive research which included running testing sessions. The feedback given to us at these sessions is reflected in the price set, along with benchmarking against other premier family attractions and experiences.

‘The prices that were set, allows us to limit visitor numbers for the allocated 2hr session times, to ensure all visitors can enjoy the experience in a relaxed way.

‘Sessions have been allocated for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and we have also worked with local charities to admit children from low-income backgrounds.’

Adventure Play recently won The Themed Entertainment Association’s award for Outstanding Achievement in the limited budget attraction category.

In celebration of this, Windsor Great Park is offering local schools the opportunity to visit the attraction for free during term time this summer.

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Center Parcs is the UK’s most visited holiday park, delighting guests with its woodland setting, huge variety of activities and – of course – those all-important rapids.

And now, the company has announced plans for a brand new Center Parcs resort, with the first phase of development set to start soon.

Initial zoning blueprints give a glimpse into the scale of the project, which will feature 700 self-catering lodges designed for family stays, alongside a Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Forest Spa.

‘This early-stage plan provides a foundation for thoughtful development, ensuring that environmental, heritage, and community factors remain central to our approach,’ commented chief executive, Colin McKinlay.

‘We are committed to listening to the local community as we refine our plans over the coming months, with the aim of submitting a formal planning application in the summer.’

Here’s what we know so far.

Where is the new Center Parcs?

The first ever in Scotland, the new park will be in the Scottish Borders, north of Hawick and south of Selkirk – around a 90-minute drive from Edinburgh and Newcastle, or two hours from Glasgow. 

In a recent statement, the firm praised the ‘picturesque location’ for its ‘rolling hills and open countryside providing stunning scenery at every turn.’

The village, which it said to ‘represent an investment of £350m-£400m’ will be able to welcome 3,500 guests at a time, with plans showing the main access route leading from the A7.

Although Center Parcs has yet to reveal an opening date, it has promised to share more as the project develops, adding that typically, a village opens around three years after planning approval.

‘The unveiling of this zoning plan marks an important first step in bringing our vision for a Center Parcs village in the Scottish Borders to life,’ McKinlay continued.

Center Parcs previously claimed the new site was necessary as its ‘existing villages are pretty much full all year round and we feel there is strong demand for another Center Parcs in the UK.’

The company also added that picking a site in Scotland was no coincidence, with its website reading: ‘We have a lot of Scottish families who visit Center Parcs already and this is a great opportunity to keep their economic impact in Scotland.’

There are currently five Center Parcs in the UK: Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest, Longleat Forest, Elveden Forest, Woburn Forest. There’s also one village in Ireland: Longford Forest.

Each of these villages was developed in existing woodlands and forests, but this time, Center Parcs will be planting its own, in a process known as afforestation.

‘Thousands of trees’ will to be planted on the site – which is ‘currently mostly open grassland’ – to create a brand new woodland, in what the company calls ‘a bold, new approach’.

The plan also prioritises heritage and environmental significance, with additions like wetlands, meadows, and lochs, as well as improved screening to protect neighbouring properties and natural beauty.

This article was first published on November 6, 2024.

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Topshop’s latest Instagram posts sent millennials nationwide into a frenzy.

The iconic fashion brand uploaded three clips on Tuesday evening, with captions that together read: ‘We’ve been listening.’

One clip also featured the words: ‘We’ve missed you too.’

It’s been four years since Big Topshop, aka their flagship Oxford Street store, closed its doors, and many are still grieving.

While Topshop items are available to buy via ASOS, shopping online has never quite replicated that buzz of spending hours in the giant shop, coming away with a pair of Joni jeans and a Kate Moss tea dress.

It’s no wonder then that Instagram posts were flooded with comments from nostalgic fashionistas.

‘Crying, screaming, throwing up,’ wrote influencer Jade Reeve. While Lily Pebbles wrote: ‘And all the millennials faint.’

Musician CC Clarke added that ‘the world hasn’t been the same’ since we lost the mega-shop, and business owner Amy Wood said: ‘I feel like my parents just got back together.’

Shoppers have been on the edge of their seats, waiting to learn whether or not their dreams are indeed coming true — and now Topshop has finally responded.

In a statement, the brand said they were ‘kicking of the first phase of [Topshop’s] much anticipated return’, and ’embracing a bold new era, bringing fans — past, present, and future — along for the journey.’

So what exactly does this mean?

Well, there is no clear indication that a brick-and-mortar store is back in our lives just yet.

However, we do knew that Topshop.com is relaunching this summer, an announcement the brand made back in September 2024.

This ‘first phase’ is coming in the form of an art installation and treasure hunt across London’s Soho, in partnership with artist Russ Jones.

The statement reads: ‘Jones… has created twenty-one mirrors featuring comments from Topshop’s army of loyal fans. With such an outpouring of love, cherished memories and dreams for the future from fans, there could only be one response from Topshop, “We Missed You Too.” 

‘Putting its money where its mouth is, Topshop isn’t just rewarding its loyal following with recognition it’s also gamifying the installation, turning it into a bold treasure hunt to find the ultimate prize: a £1,000 voucher for Topshop.com and exclusive access when the site launches later this year.’ 

And if you were expecting more, don’t be too disappointed.

Earlier this month, Topshop posted a video featuring London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, sharing his memories of shopping at Big Topshop with his daughter. The brand captioned the post ‘Dear @sadiq Give the people what they want…’

It seems they’re playing their cards close to their chest, but Topshop’s global director of marketing, Moses Rashid, has hinted that there’s more to come: ‘This is just the beginning — keep watching this space.’

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Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) has revealed what he calls ‘the single most lucrative thing you can do with your money’.

According to the finance guru, a simple check could boost the retirement funds of millions of Brits — with many adding upwards of £10,000 to their pot.

And in a recent edition of the MSE newsletter, he urged ‘everyone’ under age 73 to see if they’re eligible now, as there’s not much time left to act.

The door closes for this on April 5, but Martin warns that ‘it’s not a quick process’, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better.

Here’s what you need to know

How to boost your pension

According to MSE, buying back missing years in your national insurance record could massively boost your pension.

Your state pension is determined by how many years you have paid national insurance (NI). As a general rule, you need about 35 years to get the maximum amount, which is currently set at £221.20 a week.

However, some people may have gaps in their NI record for a variety of reasons:

• You were earning a low wage (it’s only mandatory to pay NI if you earn more than £242 per week from one job), or were unemployed.
• If you were self-employed making small profit margins
• You lived or worked outside the UK for a period of time

While currently, men aged under 73 and women aged under 71 are able to buy missing years back to 2006, the launch of the ‘new’ state pension means the option won’t be available for long.

You’ve now got until April 5 to buy back any missing national insurance years from 2006 to 2018. After this date, you can do it to 2019, potentially meaning you’ll miss out on the years you need to boost your retirement.

And when we say boost, we mean it. One MSE subscriber emailed into the financial advice platform to share just how lucrative this hack is.

‘My wife had 10+ years missing,’ David wrote. ‘Her pension forecast was £69/wk, but a (large £8,200) contribution to fill the gaps increased it to £132/wk.’

This equates to a £3,280 per year jump — a staggering £60,000 if his wife draws her pension for 20 years.

The process is pretty straightforward, although Martin’s advice is to start now, commenting: ‘Leave it to nearer the deadline and if the systems get clogged, it could be very cumbersome to make it work.’

Step one is to check your national insurance record on the UK Government website.

If you do have any missing years, MSE says its worth using the Government’s state pension forecaster to determine how much pension you’ll get with your current NI record. If you’re already getting the full state pension – which will show as a £221.20 a week forecast – there’s likely no point in buying back any years.

Bear in mind too, if you’re still a way off retirement, you still may have plenty of time to make up enough years, so you might not need to fill those gaps.

In some cases, you may not even have to pay for a full year (which typically costs £824), so the risks of spending more than you’ll get are effectively ‘diminished’.

‘What matters most here is whether you’re on track to get the full forecast, the cost of the years, and your age right now,’ adds Martin.

The Government website can help you decide whether to buy back certain years, and how to do it, and you can find more information on the MSE website.

This article was first published on March 5, 2025.

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Kate Middleton made a stunning return to the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey this afternoon, after missing last year’s event due to ongoing cancer treatment.

The Princess of Wales was forced to skip the 2023 service due to receiving chemotherapy, but she delighted fans by joining King Charles, Queen Camilla and her husband Prince William, at Westminster Abbey in London this afternoon.

The mum-of-three opted for the Catherine Walker Beau Tie coat dress for the occasion, a wool creation with pleats and bow at the neckline.

The British designer is favourite of Kate’s, who also designed for Princess Diana.

While the Catherine Walker website does not list a price for the Beau Tie, similar dresses come with a price tag of around £3,000.

It’s not the first time Kate, 43, has worn the Beau Tie dress for major occasions. She wore the same dress for the Together at Christmas carol service in December 2022, and again in November 2023 for the South Korean’s president state visit.

She also has the same dress in somber black, which was her choice for Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021 and a reception held on the eve of the Queen’s funeral in September 2022.

She accessorised her look with a striking necklace, the four row Japanese peal choker which was part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection.

Kate last attended the service in 2022, when she wore a £2,000 floral Erdem jacket with a matching £1,000 skirt.

She also sported a pair of two-tiered flower-shaped earrings, which were previously owned by Princess Diana.

Kate only made a few public appearances last year due to her ongoing health battle, but after announcing that her cancer treatment had come to an end in September 2024, she said in a statement that she was ‘looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.’

The Commonwealth Day service is an annual celebration which recognises the relationship between the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth.

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Type some variation of ‘balloons’ and ‘Turkey’ into TikTok and you’ll conjure thousands of clips of Cappadocia.

You know the ones I mean: hundreds of brightly coloured hot air balloons fill up the sky, floating above rugged extraterrestrial landscape.

The clips are so perfect, they could be AI generated — with comments calling it a ‘masterpiece’ and ‘legendary’. Naturally, I was a little suspicious.

Who amongst us hasn’t been burned by a TikTok recommendation. The bakeries with queues around the block, which charge £9 for a soggy cronut; ‘simple’ recipes for dishes that end up going straight in the bin.

And so I headed to the most famous part of central Turkey with trepidation. It’s a long way to travel to be duped by content creators.

Only, as it turns out, Cappadocia really is worth the hype — as long you know when to go.

First impressions of Cappadocia

The first thing to know about Cappadocia is that it looks like you’ve landed on Mars.

Quick geography lesson: volcanic eruptions millions of years ago covered the region in ash, which hardened into rock. Over time (a long time) these rocks eroded, creating deep valleys and distinctive rock formations known as ‘fairy chimneys’.

Humans first called the place home around 3.3 million years ago, carving churches and caves into the unusual landscape. Underground cities were also built as long ago as 7BC, and were lived in by those fearing religious persecution.

When the caves started collapse, the government ordered people to leave for their safety, with the homes completely emptying by the 1950s.

Now though, so-called cave hotels are popular among tourists visiting the region.

I stayed at Argos in Cappadocia, on the outskirts of Uçhisar, the highest of the region’s quaint villages with views of the nearby Pigeon Valley.

Set among winding cobbled lanes, the buildings of Argos seem to emerge organically from the rocks.

Each of the 71 rooms is slightly different from the other, and the vibes are cosy but luxurious. Think beamed ceilings, Ottoman rugs, Nespresso machines and fancy toiletries from upscale US brand Grown Alchemist.

Guests can also enjoy a free tour around the hotel (daily, at 5pm), where you can explore the hotel’s underground network.

There’s a seemingly never-ending wine cellar and a cavernous chapel-like room, thought to have been where caravans travelling the Silk Road stopped to rest.

There’s also a cave spa — the largest in Turkey — with an indoor pool, sauna steam, and treatment rooms. You can indulge in traditional hammams, or pick from an array of TLC treatments.

And, with Cappadocia reaching highs of just 10C in March, the outdoor pool is heated to bath-like temperature.

I’m told by a local taxi driver that the hotel’s Turkish restaurant Nahita, is popular among tourists, not just those staying at the hotel. Staff are friendly (a theme in Turkey), without being annoying, and the food is delicious.

It’s fine-dining, but still feels authentic. Standouts include the homemade Manti (a type of pasta salad you may have also seen on TikTok) and Yaglama, best described as Turkey’s equivalent of lasagna. Prices come in at around £17 for a starter, and £35 for a main course.

This is also where Argos guests enjoy breakfast, where you can feast on an impressive buffet spread. Eggs are made to order, and you can opt for various Turkish salads, meats and breads too. I’d recommend opting for a table on the outdoor terrace.

The hotel also has an international restaurant, Seki, which has a more laid-back feel. It was here I had Celtik kebab, made with sirloin steak, and the best baklava I’ve ever eaten. It’s also slightly cheaper here. My main course was £28, and desert was £11.

Away from the hotel, Reserved Restaurant is a charming spot, serving more authentic Turkish cuisine, or you can head to Göreme, the main tourist town.

Balloon chasing in Cappadocia

To get up close and personal with Cappadocia’s iconic balloons, I enlisted the help of a local taxi driver, Hanifi, the best-connected man in the area.

Born and raised in the region, Hanifi, 51, tells me he spent his childhood in a cave house. Having lived here his entire life, from restaurants recommendations to tours, he knows a thing or two.

Our first stop was Rose Valley, a balloon take-off site which gets its name from the pink hue of the rocks at sunrise and sunset.

Hot air balloons have been filling Cappadocia’s skies since the 1980s, and have grown in popularity ever since.

A word of warning though: they fly at sunrise, so be prepared to be up early.

At first, still in the dark, and in desperate need of caffeine, I wasn’t sure how impressive this would be.

But as the first balloon took off, then another and another, I felt as if I was in some kind of alternate reality.

The sight unfolding in front of you doesn’t seem real. Up to 150 hot air balloons can fill Cappadocia’s skies (the number is controlled by the Turkish Aeronautical Association) — everywhere you turn, they silently appear. It was like standing in a snow globe, only instead of a flurry of flakes, it’s hot air balloons.

Whether you wave at a balloon passing directly above you, or admire the spectacle as they float into the distance — it’s truly magical and even better than it looks on film.

The obvious downside is that you’re never going to be the only tourist wanting to witness the magic.

I’m told by locals that in the summer months, there are queues to get into the valleys, and hordes of influencers clamouring to snap the perfect shot — but I had no such problem. Visiting in low-season meant crowds were at a minimum.

Next, Hanifi takes me to Çavuşin village — up a steep path, past the abandoned cave homes to St John the Baptist Church, which was carved out of the rocks sometime in 5 AD.

The top of this hill was another incredible vantage point — and we were the only people there.

I ask Hanifi if he ever gets bored of it. At first he laughs and sheepishly nods, but before long, he’s also gazing skyward, proving that even after 50 years, the spell these balloons cast hasn’t broken just yet.

For two hours, Hanifi charged €50, which included hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Depending on where your hotel is, you might simply be able to walk outside your front door and catch the balloons. My balcony at Argos provided a more leisurely opportunity to glimpse them again, albeit from a distance.

But you don’t need to get in a balloon to see the action. With a fear of heights, I ticked this off my bucket-list, while remaining firmly on solid ground.

See the sights beyond Cappadocia’s hot air balloons

Almost every company offers three colour-coded tours: red, green and blue.

I opted for red, the most popular, a six-hour tour for €55 (£45) that takes in the most-visited tourist attractions in northern Cappadocia.

I meet my tour guide, Elif, at the hotel. She’s lived in Cappadocia for 14 years, and is undeniably passionate about the place she calls home.

She tells us that, while she’s enjoyed seeing tourism boom here, there is so much more to the place than balloons.

‘Social media has had a snowball effect for us,’ she says. ‘I wish people would visit here with more of a desire to learn about the culture, traditions and history.

‘As the balloon flights get more and more popular, people are not that interested in anything else.’

We stop first at Uçhisar Castle, the highest rock formation in Cappadocia. You could be on the set of Star Wars as you peer into cave houses and climb winding steps.

There’s also a trip to Zelve Open Air museum, a large Byzantine-era cave settlement with churches that date back to 500 AD.

Perhaps the most impressive stop though was to Paşabağı, or Monks Valley, named because Christian monks would hide in homes carved into the rocks.

Elif says that in summer, queues can snake all the way to the carpark — meanwhile, we walked straight in.

‘This is the best time to visit,’ she tells me. ‘When it’s colder there are fewer tourists, but it’s still beautiful.’

The tour also includes lunch at Dürümcü Ustanın Yeri, in Avanos, a small town famed for its pottery. Be sure to order the adana kebab — I’m still thinking about it.

The final stop on the red tour was a trip to Alaaddin Family Ceramic Art Gallery.

Avanos is on the banks of the Red River, which has supplied generations with the red clay to create their masterpieces, as far back as around 2000 BC.

The talented potters at Alaaddin use foot-driven spinning wheels — and they might even let you have a go. I didn’t exactly have my Ghost moment with Ahmed, who patiently attempted to find some semblance of creative talent within me, but it was still a lot of fun.

My final verdict

I didn’t really know what to expect when I travelled to Turkey.

As a sun-seeker, I hadn’t been thrilled by temperatures similar to those back home, but low-season ended up making the trip all the more special.

Watching the balloons take flight — they really do deserve the hype.

But there’s so much more to this region that you see on TikTok, and you can discover it all, without the crowds, at this time of year.

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In the UK, train travel might be a convenient — and often the quickest option — but it’s expensive, with long journeys like London to Edinburgh costing more than £100, even when booked in advance.

But one country in Europe is offering rail tickets at a much cheaper price.

Head to Germany, and tourists can purchase the Deutschlandticket (or the ‘Germany ticket’ for a price of just €58 (or £48) per month, which equates to about £1.60 per day.

You can travel anywhere in the entire country for this price, on all but its very fastest trains. Think clubbing in Berlin, drinking beer in Munich, or soaking up the culture in Cologne.

The ticket also covers unlimited local transport, which includes trams, buses and even ferries.

While the Deutschlandticket is actually meant for German residents, there’s nothing stopping tourists from purchasing one. You’ll have to do a little planning ahead though.

How to buy the Deutschlandticket

The tickets are only available to buy in the first 10 days of the month you plan to use it, and its a subscription model, meaning once you sign up, you’ll automatically get charged for the ticket every month after that.

Obviously, if you’re just visiting the country for a few weeks, you don’t want to keep paying the £48 — but fear not.

After signing up, you’ll get an email warning you that you need to cancel to avoid being charged again. You can cancel the subscription by the 10th of each month. Meaning, if you buy the ticket and immediately cancel the subscription, you’ll still have paid to use the railways for the entire month.

The ticket will be displayed with the DB (Deutsche Bahn) app, which is the German national railway company.

It is worth noting though that not being able to use the faster trains means you’ll need to bed in for some lengthier journeys. For example, Cologne to Frankfurt can take around 1 hour and 15 minutes on a fast train, but with the Deutschlandticket it’s around 3 hours and 20 minutes.

It’s easy to work out which trains you can take with the Deutschlandticket though. When searching on the DB website, you can modify your search and select ‘Deutschland-Ticket connections only’.

And if you think £1.60 a day is cheap, head to Luxembourg, and you won’t have to pay a penny.

Since February 2020, the wealthiest nation in the European Union has been offering public transport completely free.

And, while other countries can’t quite beat Luxembourg’s offering, some do give incentives to use their railways.

For example, if you arrive in France’s Normandy by train (or bus or bicycle) you’ll get a 10% discount on admission to 90 cultural sites and attractions, including museums, castles, parks and monuments, as well as activities such as canoeing, bike rental and escape rooms.

Or, if you stay at Mas Pelegri, a stylish eco-hotel in Girona, Spain, you’ll get £50 off your weekly stay if you come by rail.

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Walkers Sensations are God Tier crisps. The Thai Sweet Chilli and Roast Chicken & Thyme flavours are up there with the best.

But the snack giant’s new offering hasn’t exactly been embraced.

The limited edition Slow Roasted Pork & Apple Sauce flavour, launched in time for Easter, has left taste tasters divided.

Walkers said they were ‘unforgettable’ with an extraordinary flavour, describing it as ‘a rich, smoky aroma of slow-roasted pork balanced with sweet, tangy apple sauce.’

What’s not to love, right? Well, shoppers aren’t convinced.

Snack critic @johns_snackreviews tried the new flavour, and dubbed them the ‘worst crisps ever made’.

He scored the Sensations a rock-bottom 0/10 and said they’d been ‘slam dunked straight in the bin.’

Penning his thoughts on Instagram, John, who has amassed more than 25,000 followers on the social media platform, said: ‘They taste like sick and smell like out of date meat. Full blown gagged.’

He added that the crisps were a ‘shambles’.

His followers agreed to, with comments labelling them ‘rank’ and ‘gross’.

One commenter wrote: ‘This flavour is nasty and the balance is completely off… These are quite possibly the worst crisps I’ve ever had.’

It’s not the first time @johns_snackreviews has had some choice words to say about Walkers crisps.

When the company launched Extra Flamin’ Hot Wotsits, John warned his followers of a strange aftertaste, writing: ‘Lemon, lemon, lemon – that’s all I could taste.’

But, not everyone agrees that the Slow Roasted Pork & Apple Sauce offering should be avoided at all costs.

‘These are a 9/10,’ wrote one commenter. ‘The flavour is on point, actually tastes like it could be made for a Sunday roast.’

‘I didn’t find them that bad,’ said another. ‘Had far, far worse tasting crisps.’

‘These were game changing,’ wrote one happy customer. ‘Didn’t think they’d get the apple sauce flavouring but they did it. Epic’

The bags are available from Tesco in 150g sharing bags for £2.50 or £1.65 with a Clubcard.

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Jet2 has cancelled flights to an Italian destination famed for it’s old Hollywood glamour, sun-drenched towns and limoncello.

That’s right, travellers can wave goodbye to their dreams of holidaying on the Amalfi Coast, as the budget airline has rolled back it’s plans to fly to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi.

The airport only opened in July last year — giving tourists the option to fly directly into the Amalfi Coast, rather than Naples, over an hour away.

But now, Jet2 say they will be cancelling flights before they’ve even started, explaining that the decision to withdraw is ‘in response to demand’.

Last year, the carrier said that services would begin from Manchester and Birmingham in May, offering weekly Monday services.

A spokesman told Metro: ‘As a successful business, we are continually reviewing our flying programme and will make adjustments where required. This gives us the ability to add flights and holidays in response to demand, and very occasionally we may withdraw flights too.

‘Following this latest review, we have taken the decision to withdraw services to Salerno Airport from Birmingham and Manchester Airports.’

It means that disappointed holiday makers will be looking to claw money spent on flights and holidays.

Jet2 continued: ‘Where customers are affected, we will contact them to let them know their options which include travelling via Naples Airport, rebooking, or receiving a full refund.’

For those tourists who do make it to the Amalfi Coast this summer, they’rein for a taste of ‘la dolce vita’.

Towns like Sorrento and Positano are a must, or you can hop on board a boat, and sail around Capri, taking a dip in the Blue Grotto, with waters so impossibly turquoise, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re photoshopped.

There’s also the areas most famous landmark, the Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea, which is free to enter. While most travellers take their obligatory snap on the building’s staircase, make sure you head inside too.

And tourists aren’t disappointed. ‘It’s unbelievably beautiful and the food is amazing,’ wrote on Redditor. While it’s been dubbed ‘the most beautiful place on Earth,’ by reviewers on TripAdvisor.

If you do want to get to Amalfi via Jet2, they offer several flights to nearby Naples.

A spokesperson said: ‘With a fantastic programme of services to Naples Airport from seven UK bases, including Birmingham and Manchester, we know that customers and independent travel agents still have superb choice when it comes to accessing the region.’

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Metro’s Acting Lifestyle Editor, Kristina Beanland, recently flew business class from London to Chicago with Aer Lingus.

It was her first time travelling outside economy, and the experience was a world away from the flying she’s accustomed to.

From take-off champagne to pillows and metal spoons, this is her honest review.

Kristina, over to you.

The background: Before my trip to the Windy City, the closest I’ve come to flying in style was on an over-booked flight to Dubai, when my family and I were bumped up to Premium Economy.

Even then, aged 11, the footrests and extra leg-room were enough for me to know, deep in my bones, that I was made for this life.

More than 20 years later, my time had finally come. Never had I boarded a plane and turned left, until now.

Set the scene. What does it look like? It’s exactly like you see in the movies: huge seats, or rather, booths, smiling cabin crew, and as much food and drink as you care to consume.

How much room do you actually get? Let me give you some stats: Aer Lingus business class seats are 22 inches wide, to put that into perspective, Ryanair economy seats are 15.5 inches.

All the seats on my flight also had aisle access, so no clambering over other passengers to go to the loo. It doesn’t exactly feel private – you can’t pretend you’re in your own flying apartment – but you definitely get some much-appreciated personal space.

What about the service? I’d barely stowed my bag in the overhead locker when a friendly member of the cabin crew asked me (by name, of course) if I’d like a ‘pre-take off’ drink.

I enjoy everything about this premise. You’re essentially given an alcoholic drink (virgin options are also available), that you must down before you have to hand the glass back and strap yourself in for take off.

Which did you go for? I, of course, ordered champagne, and nibbles were offered too. When I couldn’t decide between two different flavours of artisan crackers, both were left on my table.

More about the food, please. You’re given a menu to choose from, and it’s so much more than chicken or beef. Options on the current menu include flaky pan-fried hake on toasted fregola pasta, or skin-on thyme and parsley chicken supreme.

Courses are served one after the other. There’s no plastic tray, instead there are plates and bowls, metal cutlery and, the piece de resistance: a tablecloth.

After dinner, I watched Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and Pretty Woman, which felt apt for my current situation. More champagne was followed by a snooze.

Anything else? Before settling in, I investigated the little cupboards and cubby holes that surrounded my seat. There’s the usual – charging ports – but also a handy toiletry bag that includes an eye mask and ear plugs.

You’re also given a nice thick duvet, the kind you’d actually have on your bed at home, and a pillow, perfect for when you decide to fully recline your chair into a completely flat bed and get some sleep. At 5ft 4in, I was able to fully stretch out, and the beds actually extend to 6ft.

I did wonder what the large cupboard below my feet was for, only to have a cabin crew member practically hurl themselves at me to stop me from accidentally inflating my life jacket. Mystery solved.

Ok, it sounds great. How much does it cost? Aer Lingus Business Class fares start from £1,179 return. Standard economy seats start from £229, so the jump is, admittedly, massive.

Final thoughts? The fact that there are fewer travellers in this part of the cabin means everything feels a little less chaotic.

You don’t hear the noise of other people’s call bells, or the sound of a herd of men snoring. There are no long queues for the loos, or an army of kids racing up and down the aisles.

I loved everything about my business class flight. Of course, they don’t come cheap, and if you’re looking to splurge, I’d suggest maybe holding out for a long-haul trip, rather than my seven hour mid-haul to Chicago.

But, if you fancy spoiling yourself for a big birthday, or on your honeymoon perhaps, I’d highly recommend it.

Fly from the UK to Chicago via Dublin with Aer Lingus and go through US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance in Ireland.

Aer Lingus offers up to 14 weekly flights to Chicago, with economy fares starting from £229 return and Business Class from £1,179 return.

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This October, UK passengers will be able to book plane tickets from Manchester, to Southampton and Exeter.

Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has confirmed that two new routes will be launching:

• Manchester to Southampton
• Manchester to Exeter

The Manchester to Southampton flight will run three times daily, beginning Monday October 26.

The Monday to Friday flights will depart from Manchester at 06:50, 11:40 and 18:10.

In the opposite direction, flights will depart from Southampton at 08:35, 16:35 and 19:55.

The Manchester to Exeter route will run a single daily flight, launching on the same date.

Flights will take off on weekdays, departing at 13:20 and returning from Exeter at 15:00.

Tickets are already on sale, starting from just £59.99, which includes a 15kg hold bag and a 6kg cabin bag.

It’s the first time ever that these UK cities will be connected by air, making quick journey times a possibility for business and leisure travellers.

Manchester to Southampton will have a journey time of just 1 hour and 5 minutes. To compare, the average journey by train takes an average of 4 hours and 17 minutes.

Meanwhile Manchester to Exeter will take 1 hour and 10 minutes, with the average train journey around 4 hours and 13 minutes.

Jonathan Keenan-O’Connor, Head of Aviation at Manchester Airport, said: ‘We’re proud to connect people in the North to the places they want to get to, and that includes other parts of the UK. It’s fantastic that the South Coast and Southwest regions will now be within easy reach for business and leisure travel from Manchester.’

Loganair might not be familiar to those of us who opt for trains or cars when travelling domestically, but the Scottish airline actually operates from 11 UK airports: Kirkwall, Inverness, Southampton, Manchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, City of Derry, Newcastle and Isle of Man.

It was also named by consumer champion Which? as the UK’s second best short-haul airline, only losing out on the top spot to Jet2.

Customers gave their airline five stars for customer service.

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Ryanair has confirmed that it will delay its move to paperless boarding passes, a change that travellers have called ‘ridiculous’.

Last month, the budget airline announced that it would be scrapping paper boarding passes in favour of digital check-ins, meaning all travellers will need a smartphone to board their flights.

The change was due to come into force in May, but now the carrier say thatthis will be postponed to November 3.

Ryanair faced backlash from travellers after initially sharing the news, with many worried for older passengers.

‘How will this affect the older generation who are not tech savvy?’ commented @skatkatzenberg on TikTok. ‘And when airline systems are down? It’s a great idea until systems go down.’

‘Ridiculous as some older people do not have smartphones,’ added @colonia1912, while @kimmybrown27 agreed, writing: ‘I think it will cause chaos, especially for older people.’

Metro readers were equally furious, with some urging other flyers to boycott the airline in protest against the change.

Youssef Ka wrote: ‘People should just boycott… Not everyone has a smart phone or apps…’, while Raymond Skinner added, ‘Just Boycott them, go easyJet, Jet2 instead’.

Dan James echoed: ‘Simple, don’t fly with them, they’re awful anyway’ and Andrew Kaye simply said, ‘I’d rather walk’.

Ryanair have not given a reason for the delay to their plans, but did cite their ‘less busy’ winter schedule, which will likely make the transition to paperless a little smoother.

In a statement released today, the airline’s CMO, Dara Brady said: ‘This move to 100% paperless boarding passes from November 2025 will allow us to deliver an enhanced travel experience for customers, streamlined through the myRyanair app during our less busy Winter schedule.’

The airline also say that paperless boarding passes are more environmentally friendly.

Dara Brady continued: ‘Like other ticket industries (concert, sports venues, rail, etc.) there has been a massive switch to using mobile, and with almost 80% of Ryanair customers already using the myRyanair app, it is time to transition the remaining passengers to digital, which will see them reduce their carbon footprint and receive a smoother and enhanced travel experience from November 2025 as Ryanair continues to grow to 300m passengers over the next decade.’

Ryanair first announced the new boarding pass rules at a press conference in Dublin in September 2024.

The firm’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, said that procedures are already in place for any potential digital hiccups.

‘If your battery dies, we know your seat, we have your travel documents, and we can do everything at the boarding gate,’ O’Leary said. ‘We already do this when we can’t scan someone’s phone for any reason. Once we get your name and passport, it’s fine, and everything will be on the app.’

What happens if your phone dies at the airport?

Ryanair has said they can print boarding passes at the gate if necessary.

However, they haven’t clarified whether there will be a fee for this, or what would happen if a traveller’s phone dies before they are able to pass through security at the airport.

According to the Ryanair website, the current fee for printing a new boarding pass at the airport is £20.

Do you need internet access to show your boarding pass?

Once you’ve downloaded your boarding pass to your phone — which you can do after checking in online — you won’t need internet access to display it.

It’s a good idea to download your pass before you arrive at the airport, in case you’re unable to find a reliable internet connection.

Can you use a screenshot of your boarding pass?

Ryanair recommends that passengers use the app to access their boarding pass, instead of a screenshot.

However, passengers can use a screenshot as a backup — just make sure it shows all the information, including flight number, QR code, full name and seat number.

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Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) has revealed what he calls ‘the single most lucrative thing you can do with your money’.

According to the finance guru, a simple check could boost the retirement funds of millions of Brits — with many adding upwards of £10,000 to their pot.

And in the latest edition of the MSE newsletter, he’s urging ‘everyone’ under age 73 to see if they’re eligible now, as there’s not much time left to act.

The door closes for this on April 5, but Martin warns that ‘it’s not a quick process’, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better.

Here’s what you need to know

How to boost your pension

According to MSE, buying back missing years in your national insurance record could massively boost your pension.

Your state pension is determined by how many years you have paid national insurance (NI). As a general rule, you need about 35 years to get the maximum amount, which is currently set at £221.20 a week.

However, some people may have gaps in their NI record for a variety of reasons:

• You were earning a low wage (it’s only mandatory to pay NI if you earn more than £242 per week from one job), or were unemployed.
• If you were self-employed making small profit margins
• You lived or worked outside the UK for a period of time

While currently, men aged under 73 and women aged under 71 are able to buy missing years back to 2006, the launch of the ‘new’ state pension means the option won’t be available for long.

You’ve now got until April 5 to buy back any missing national insurance years from 2006 to 2018. After this date, you can do it to 2019, potentially meaning you’ll miss out on the years you need to boost your retirement.

And when we say boost, we mean it. One MSE subscriber emailed into the financial advice platform to share just how lucrative this hack is.

‘My wife had 10+ years missing,’ David wrote. ‘Her pension forecast was £69/wk, but a (large £8,200) contribution to fill the gaps increased it to £132/wk.’

This equates to a £3,280 per year jump — a staggering £60,000 if his wife draws her pension for 20 years.

The process is pretty straightforward, although Martin’s advice is to start now, commenting: ‘Leave it to nearer the deadline and if the systems get clogged, it could be very cumbersome to make it work.’

Step one is to check your national insurance record on the UK Government website.

If you do have any missing years, MSE says its worth using the Government’s state pension forecaster to determine how much pension you’ll get with your current NI record. If you’re already getting the full state pension – which will show as a £221.20 a week forecast – there’s likely no point in buying back any years.

Bear in mind too, if you’re still a way off retirement, you still may have plenty of time to make up enough years, so you might not need to fill those gaps.

In some cases, you may not even have to pay for a full year (which typically costs £824), so the risks of spending more than you’ll get are effectively ‘diminished’.

‘What matters most here is whether you’re on track to get the full forecast, the cost of the years, and your age right now,’ adds Martin.

The Government website can help you decide whether to buy back certain years, and how to do it, and you can find more information on the MSE website.

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This autumn, travellers will be able to board flights from a ‘five-star’ UK airport to Grand Canaria in the Canary Islands, which welcomed a staggering 6.3 million British tourists last year.

Budget airline Easyjet has announced it will begin a twice-weekly route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, starting on October 27 2025.

Flights will depart on Mondays and Fridays throughout the winter, with fares from as little as £34.99 (one-way in January), making it a bargain winter-sun getaway.

And if you opt for one of the new flights, your holiday is sure to start off right.

Liverpool John Lennon has been named as the UK’s best airport by consumer giant Which? two years in a row.

According to the publication, travellers praise easy parking, short security queues and an uncrowded departure lounge.

Scouse hospitality was also cited in its five-star reviews: ‘People here really do live up to the stereotype of Scousers as “friendly”, “good humoured” and “cheerful”,’ said Which?.

And once travellers land in Gran Canaria, there’s plenty of holiday fun to be had.

While the island has incredibly popular beaches such as Güigüi and Amadores, Gran Canaria has diverse terrain, and a visit to the sand dunes of Maspalomas should be on every visitor’s list. The dunes are easily walkable, and were even used as a filming location in The Witcher.

For quaint cobbled streets and al fresco cocktails, wander around the Old Town, Las Palmas, where you can climb the Cathedral’s bell towers for panoramic views.

And you can’t leave Gran Canaria without picking up some local products from one of its many markets. Puerto Morgan market is a popular choice, held every Friday, and the largest across the Canary Islands. With 265 stalls to choose from, there is something for everyone, from artisan food products to jewellery and leather goods.

The news of Easyjet’s new route comes after the airline announced another new Spanish route, from Belfast to Reus, a city in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

The airline confirmed that regular flights will then depart every Tuesday and Saturday.

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‘When I go on dating apps, I’m looking for an investor, not a husband,’ laughs Juliette*, 36.

The PR exec is single and lives in London. She says her dreams of owning a home in the city will never be a reality unless she couples up.

‘It’s not a position I ever thought I’d be in,’ she admits. ‘I was in a relationship for the latter half of my 20s, and I was saving too.

‘I thought if he matched what I had, that’s a house deposit.

‘But when we split up, it was back to the drawing board. I’ve got about £15,000 saved up, but I probably need to save at least another £15,000 before I can consider buying – even then, I’d only be able to afford a one-bed flat.’

And building up a nest egg isn’t easy. ‘London living is expensive,’ says Juliette. ‘Just transport alone is around £200 a month, and my rent is £800.

‘I could make more sacrifices but people forget when you’re single that if you don’t make plans and arrange to do things with friends, you end up sitting at home alone.

‘Yes, I could move further out, but I don’t know anyone in the likes of Croydon or Essex and when you’re a single, that would make for quite a lonely existence.’

For now, Juliette says she feels trapped, and finds house sharing in her 30s embarrassing – it’s why she chose to be anonymous for this article. ‘It’s a little humiliating,’ she says.

‘Why am I still having arguments with housemates about heating bills and cleaning, as though I’m a student?

‘And telling guys on dates that I still live in a house share makes me cringe.

‘I look at my coupled-up friends, and they’re upsizing. I find it hard to congratulate them. They don’t appreciate how simply being in a relationship has made their situation so much easier.’

There are millions of single people in the UK in Juliette’s position – but as ever, women are being hit the hardest.

The Women’s Budget Group (WBG), a feminist think tank, told Metro that the earnings gap where women take home 29% less than men means home ownership isn’t an option for many.

Their findings make for bleak reading. According to WBG research, shared with Metro, women need over 11 times their annual salaries to be able to buy a home in England, while men need just over eight times.

In England, for a one-bedroom property, 36% of women’s median earnings are absorbed by rent, compared to 26% of men’s. This goes up to 53% for women in London and 41% for men respectively.

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, director of WBG, told Metro: ‘We know that women are more likely to work part-time, and in sectors that don’t offer bonuses or pay for working extra hours.

‘We also know that women tend to have less savings than men, and are also more likely to get into debt in order to afford day-to-day spending.

‘This all means that they’re far less likely to have money saved up for a house deposit.’

Likewise, data from Fairview Homes shows that women are 68% less confident that they’ll be able to purchase their own home in the next two years than men (53%). Women are also statistically less likely to buy a home with a friend than men – 23% compared with 36%.

Meanwhile, figures from Mojo Mortgages find that women need to save nearly four times as long as men to afford a deposit for their first home. Their analysis of ONS data shows that, on average, men earn £422 more each month after tax, and can save up to 40% more each month.

Research also shows that 90% of single parents are women. Dr Mary-Ann continues: ‘If you’re a single parent, you’re significantly more likely to be in poverty.

‘You have less flexibility at work because you have to be present for things like school pick ups and drop off.

‘Single parents also need bigger homes, because they need rooms for their children – which again, affects affordability.’

And even if you do get onto that first rung of the property ladder, solo home owning has its struggles.

Currently, people living alone in England, Scotland and Wales can claim a 25% discount on their council tax – meaning they still pay 75%. But if two adults (or more) live together, they can of course split it 50/50 between them. This means that people living alone pay an extra £516.24 per year.

Hayley Johnston, 32, owns a home in Northamptonshire. She knows all too well the highs – and lows – of shouldering the burden alone.

She tells Metro: ‘I used a Help to Buy scheme, so I had a 5% deposit of £7,000. There was no way I could have afforded it otherwise! I also lived at home with my parents, so was able to save up.’

She initially paid £450 a month for her mortgage, and says she felt ‘really proud’ to be a homeowner.

But in recent years, Hayley, a teacher, has had to be more careful with her finances. She says: ‘I’ve remortgaged twice and now pay £680 a month.

‘On the surface, I look financially comfortable. I have a house, a gym membership, and a car, but I’m unable to collate any kind of savings. I live pretty much pay cheque to pay cheque.

‘If anyone needed a lump sum or there was some kind of disaster, that’s something I don’t have – I don’t think I’ll be able to have savings until I had a partner.’

However, Hayley says the experience has taught her a lot too.

‘Sometimes I listen to my married friends, and they don’t even know how much their mortgage or bills are. They don’t have a proper overview.

‘The thing about doing this on your own is I’ve learnt a lot about money – I’ve had no other choice!’

While the picture may look bleak for single women, Dr Mary-Ann from WMB says it doesn’t have to be this way.

She explains: ‘We need to make a political choice to build more social housing. The renting market offers no security for long-term letters – they can be evicted quickly.

‘Social housing, owned by associations or local governments, would offer reasonable rents, long-term tenancies and wouldn’t be run for profit.

‘It would see private landlords withdraw, and house prices would go down. It means you wouldn’t need to buy a house to secure a long-term home.

‘The government also needs to invest in early education and childcare, to make it easier for women to work full time, and reduce that earnings gap.’

*Names have been changed

This article was originally published on February 12, 2024.

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The holiday checklist goes something like this: think about your budget, Google the weather, and check that your passport and travel insurance are in date.

But it’s also important to consider the safety of your destination, and what the latest advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is.

The FCDO shares guidance on 266 countries or territories. Of these, 73 are currently flagged as having ‘no-go’ zones. The FCDO might advise against all travel, or all but essential travel to parts or all of an area.

Iran is top of mind for many ‘danger tourists; this week, after British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman were detained by Iranian authorities on espionage charges.

After staying in Tabriz, Tehran and Isfahan, they never reached their hotel in Kerman. The couple said they were choosing to ignore travel advice.

From the threat of terrorism to unstable political climates and natural disasters, there are many reasons why the FCDO may advise Brits to avoid certain places.

While British nationals make around 50 million trips each year – most of which are trouble-free – it’s important to check the FCDO before you pack your suitcase. Your insurance might be invalid if you travel against their advice.

Here is the current list for February 2025, according to the FCDO website.

FCDO advises against ‘all travel’

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Haiti
• Iran
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Russia
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

FCDO advises against ‘all travel’ to parts

• Algeria: areas within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia.
• Armenia: areas within 5km of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
• Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabah, the districts of Zengilan, Jabrayil, Qubadli, Lachin and Kelbajar on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. The western areas of Khojavand, Fuzuli and Aghdam. Any travel within the 5km border with Armenia.
• Burundi: Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, Kayanza Province, Melchior Ndadaye International Airport to Cibitoke, Bujumbura Rural Province.
• Benin: Northern border regions, Eastern Benin.
• Burkina Faso: everywhere apart from the capital, Ouagadougou, where it advises against all but essential travel.
• Chad: Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad region, within 30km of all Chad’s other borders. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Chad.
• Côte d’Ivoire: borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border.

• Cameroon: Bakassi Peninsula, borders with Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, the Far-North, North-West, North, South-West and Adamawa regions, Limbé and Maroua.
• Central African Republic: against all travel except to the capital, Bangui.
• Congo: some distrcits in Pool region, border with Central African Republic in Likouala region, Mouyondzi District in Bouenza region.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: border with Central African Republic, Eastern DRC, areas in the Kinshasa Province, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province, Kasaï Oriental, Kasaï, Kasaï Central.
• Djibouti: border with Eritrea.
• Eritrea: within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders.
• Egypt: border with Libya, North Sinai, northern part of South Sinai, Western Desert, Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid, Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate.
• Ethiopia: border areas, Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Gambela, Oromia, Somali, Central, Southern, Sidama, South West and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.
• Georgia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• Indonesia: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North Maluku.
• Iraq: Federal Iraq (see FCDO website for specific areas).
• Israel: Gaza, The West Bank, Northern Israel.
• India: border with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur.
• Jordan: border with Syria.
• Myanmar: States of Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, regions of North Mandalay and East of the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in Bago region.

• Mali: advises against all ravel except to Bamako.
• Mauritania: Eastern Mauritania, borders with Mali and Western Sahara, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka provinces.
• Moldova: Transnistria.
• Mozambique: Cabo Delgado, all but essential travel to the rest of Mozambique.
• Nigeria: areas of North East, North West, South East and South Nigeria.
• Niger: everywhere except Niamey.
• Pakistan: border with Afghanistan, provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
• The Occupied Palestinian Territories: Gaza, areas near Gaza, the West Bank, Northern Israel.
• Philippines: Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago.
• Saudi Arabia: border with Yemen and Abha International Airport.
• Somalia: Eastern and Western Somaliland.
• Sudan: everywhere apart from Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid, where all but essential travel is advised.
• Tunisia: Western Tunisia
• Togo: border with Burkina Faso.
• Turkey: border with Syria.
• Ukraine: Crimea, within 50km of Belarus, everywhere else in Ukraine.
• Venezuela: within 80km of the border with Colombia, within 40km of the border with Brazil, Zulia state.
• Western Sahara: areas within 30km north and west of ‘the Berm’ boundary line, and areas in the territory south and east ‘the Berm’ boundary line.

FCDO against against ‘all but essential travel’

• Mayotte
• New Caledonia
• North Korea

FCDO advises against ‘all but essential’ travel to parts

• Angola: Cabinda Province (except Cabinda city), areas within 1km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Linda Norte (except for official border crossings and their access roads).
• Bangladesh: Chittagong Hill Tracts.
• Bolivia: Chapare region.
• Brazil: Amazonas State.
• Burundi: Rusizi National Park.
• Colombia: the Pacific Coast, northern Colombia, the borders with Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, southern Colombia and central Colombia.
• Ecuador: coastal region, areas within 20km of the border with Colombia.
• Eswatini: the border with Mozambique.
• Ghana: Bawku Municipality.

• Guatemala: within 5km of the Mexican border, Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in the department of Huehuetenango.
• Iraq: Kurdistan Region of Iraq (see FCDO website for specific areas).
• Kenya: border with Somalia.
• Kosovo: Zvečan, Zupin Potok and Leposavic, and areas of Mitrovica north of the river Ibar.
• Laos: Xaisomboun Province.
• Mexico: States of Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Chiapas.
• Mayanmar: Shan State South and East, Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region south of Tanintharyi township, the rest of Bago region.
• Malaysia: Eastern Sabah coastal islands.
• Nigeria: North Central and the Federal Capital Territory.
• Papua New Guinea: Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

• Peru: within 20km of the Colombia border, Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers.
• Tanzania: within 20km of the Tanzanian border with Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
• Tunisia: areas north and west of Ghardimaou, within 30km of the Algeria border, Kasserine Governorate, within 10m of the Tunisia border, within 10k of Mount Mghila, Mount Orbata, Southern Tunisia
• Thailand: parts of the south, near the border with Malaysia, Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line.
• Ukraine: western Ukraine, parts further than 50km from the border with Belarus.
• Uganda: Queen Elizabeth National Park, area south-wesdt of Kasese town, Semuliki National Park.
• Venezula: all areas apart from those listed above.

This article has been updated and was originally published on January 16.

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Some say jet lag is a state of mind, while others spend their long-haul holidays falling asleep at noon and asking: ‘But what time is it, really?’

It’s the only downside to seeing the world, and travellers have spent decades trying to avoid it.

Some drink copious cups of coffee, or eat lots of bananas (yes, really, it’s the potassium). Others take sleeping pills, but these can be addictive, and have varying degrees of success.

So, when I flew more than 10,500 miles from London to Sydney, I assumed I would have to accept my fate – that is, until an Australian colleague recommended the app Timeshifter and, spoiler, it changed my life.

How does the Timeshifter app work?

Timeshifter is the brainchild of tech entrepreneurs Mickey Beyer-Clausen and Jacob Ravn, along with Dr Steven W Lockley, an expert in circadian rhythms who supports NASA astronaut training.

Your circadian rhythm is better known as your body clock, and when you cross time zones, this gets disrupted.

According to Timeshifter, the app combines ‘the only elements shown to reset the circadian clock’, (light-dark exposure and melatonin) along with those that ‘alleviate the symptoms’ (light, melatonin, caffeine and naps).

The concept is simple. You put in your flight date and time, and a schedule is created for you. Your first plan is free, then it’s $9.99 (£7.97) per plan or
a $24.99 (£19.94) subscription which offers unlimited plans for a year.

You’ll be told when to sleep, take naps, get (or avoid) light exposure, and when to drink coffee or chug supplements.

Given that melatonin is prescription-only in the UK, I wouldn’t be taking it – but you can give Timeshifter this info, and your schedule is adjusted accordingly.

Putting Timeshifter to the test

I was due to fly at 9am on a Sunday, so I was surprised when my schedule started on the Friday before. I was instructed to be up by 7am, and go to bed before 10pm.

On the Saturday, those timings shifted by an hour, so I was up at 6am (on a Saturday), and in bed for 9pm.

Then came the day of my flight, where I had to set my alarm for 3am. This felt cruel, given I didn’t need to leave for the airport until 5.30am.

Timeshifter also told me to get straight on the caffeine, which at this point was pretty much a necessity.

I also needed light, but, erm, it was dark. So I switched on every light in my flat and hoped that would have the same effect.

Things started to get a bit weird when I boarded my flight at 9am. By this time I wasn’t allowed to have caffeine, while my fellow passengers were on the espressos.

However, I trusted the process, and when it was time to go to sleep at 3pm London time, I actually felt pretty snoozy.

Timeshifter told me to sleep for an hour before arriving in Doha at 4pm UK time, or 6pm local time. I should have slept at the airport, but the anxious part of me was too scared about missing the connecting flight, so I stayed awake.

Two hours later (8pm in Doha) I was on another plane (it would be a mammoth 14-hour journey), and it was time to go back to sleep. Again, this is easier said than done; I had some food and watched an hour or so of Ocean’s 11 before finally dozing off.

I’ll admit, the military schedule adds a level of pressure that doesn’t make relaxing easy. But, I stuck to it as best I could, and was only ever about an hour or so out of my plan.

I had to set an alarm to wake up after six hours, and, as under orders from Timeshifter, start pounding the caffeine. Again, this felt a bit counter-intuitive. It was the dead of night in both the UK and Doha, and almost all my fellow passengers were sleeping.

Still, I did as I was told, and watched Oceans 8 and 12 before my final scheduled nap six hours later (8am in Doha). By this stage, I honestly had no idea what time it was, so I was grateful to have Timeshifter making decisions for me.

After an hour, I was waking as the plane started to descend, and it was 5pm in Sydney. And, somehow, I felt… fine?

Emerging from a 14-hour flight, I was definitely giving Andy Dufresne as he escaped from Shawshank. But while I might have had cabin fever, and a crick in my neck, I genuinely wasn’t tired.

At the hotel, I ate dinner without falling asleep in my pasta, and then, it was time for bed.

As we walked back to our hotel rooms, my friends commented that they were wide awake, given it was morning back in the UK, but I was more than ready for lights out.

How did I sleep? Like a log.

The following morning, my fellow travellers commented on their eventful nights. One even got up at 3am, and took a ferry around Sydney Harbour at sunrise. Meanwhile, I was sleeping soundly.

While others spent the next few days groaning and popping sleeping pills, I was feeling pretty smug about my Timeshifter experience.

Since then, I’ve been raving about it anyone that will listen. If you’re travelling long haul, I can’t recommend it enough.

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Kids love a good park, whether it’s mastering the monkey bars, or almost touching the sky on the swings.

There are more than 27,000 green spaces and parks across the UK — but one certainly stands out among the rest.

Lilidorei, based at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, is the world’s largest play structure.

As kids enter the fantastical land — which cost a staggering 15 million to build — they’re met with a colourful village, home to creatures such as fairies, elves, and hobgoblins. 

Kids up to the age of 11 can explore the huge area, climbing a castle that reaches heights of 26m. There are 170m of rope bridges, as well as ladders and swings and six different slides to fly down— the highest of which is 24m.

‘Lilidorei is a magical, mysterious village full of play and home to nine clans who worship Christmas,’ reads the website.

‘They are ruled by Lord Elfwin, King of Lilidorei who lives in Elfwin Drin, the biggest play structure in the world.’

There are also staff members, aka ‘secret keepers’ around who explain the fictional world to excited children — and are on hand to keep everyone safe.

It’s estimated that kids can be entertained for up to three hours in the park, which was designed by the Duchess of Northumberland, but adults won’t exactly be twiddling their thumbs.

There’s food and drink lodges, and a gift ship where you can buy souvenirs. And let’s not forget that the park is within the grounds of Alnwick Castle, where the exterior shots for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter franchise were filmed.

Last year, the park even hosted an over 18s adults night, inviting grown-up kids to play after dark.

And, since opening in May 2023, kids and adults alike have raved about the record-breaking spot.

‘The whole experience exceeded all expectations,’ wrote one woman on TripAdvisor who visited with her two grandsons. ‘The staff were incredible, entering into the spirit of the adventure at all times. We were there for 4.5 hours.’

And a second added: ‘Lilidorei is an enchanting place, that feels like a fairytale come to life.

The play structure is incredible, and appeals to children’s imaginations & sense of adventure.’

Meanwhile on TikTok, a video by @dayoutwiththekids has had 4.6 million views, with commenters saying they can’t wait to visit.

‘Sod the kids I want to go,’ wrote one excited viewer. While another joked: ‘Will it look weird if I, an unmarried, childless grown woman, go alone?’

Lilidorei is opening for February half term, from February 19 to Sunday March 2 2025, from 10am to 4pm.

It will then be open Wednesdays to Sundays throughout March from 10am to 4pm.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets for adults during February and March cost £12 when purchased online, or £14 when arriving on the day.

From March 28 onwards, tickets cost £17.90. Four children go free with every paying adult.

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A wander along the Southbank. Lunch at Borough market. A trip to Tower Bridge. A day out in London can quickly get filled — but once night falls, it’s a different story.

Our capital has been criticised of late for having a pretty dead nightlife scene, and there are receipts to prove it.

Noise complaints to councils across the city have seen pubs and bars shut, or their hours reduced. There’s been a 19% decline in late night venues since Covid lockdowns, with iconic clubs including Tiger Tiger and G-A-Y announcing their closures or planned sales.

This month, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, even announced a new independent Nightlife Taskforce in an attempt to bring the fun back to London.

But all hope is not lost. Before you decide to call it a night at 10pm, head to the neon wonderland that is the London Night Cafe.

An East London gem in Aldgate, the café is open until 3am on weeknights (yes, including Sundays) and 5am on Fridays.

The place bills itself as a spot to simply hang out with your mates, believing that a good night out doesn’t have to involve ‘getting drunk and shouting over loud music’.

No alcohol is served, and there are various social activities on offer.

A story on their Instagram profile reads: ‘We foster a chill, intimate environment, with a bunch of different activities and nooks to sit (or lie down) in.’

Over on their website, they encourage people to ‘bring a friend, a date, some work, and/or a good book and settle in for a cosy evening in our stimulating and futuristic space.’

Punters pay an entry fee (£7, or £10 on Fridays), and then coffee, tea and snacks are free. They also sell soft-drinks, some food and allow non-alcohol drinks and outside food to be brought in too.

While the vibes are cosy, with board games, books, video games, and even a ball pit, the sparkly London Night Cafe also hosts gigs, playing host to DJs and live bands.

There’s also an indoor beach and a multi-tiered ‘cuddle puddle’ with enough room for 15 people to lay down in an once. The bathroom also has a ‘rave mode’ button, to level up your toilet trip.

A blog post on the website, written by founder, scholar and artist, Dr Eric Rogers, explains that the café ‘is intended to cater to a more thoughtful, introspective nighttime culture, where people can move back and forth between being social and introverted.’

And, despite only being open for almost 18 months, people are already raving about the place.

‘A third space that isn’t just a pub, bar, nightclub, and what with cafés being too boring or overpriced, and libraries closing down; this cosy little gem fills a niche,’ wrote one satisfied customer on TikTok.

While another simply wrote: ‘This is the stuff of dreams’ and a third called it ‘genius’.

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The most isolated city on earth might conjure up images of barren landscapes and tumbleweed.

So you might be surprised to learn that the world’s most remote metropolis is one you’ve probably heard of many times before – in fact, you might even know someone who hails from there.

Perth, in Western Australia, is often considered to be the most isolated major urban area when it comes to distance. To put this into context, the nearest destination with over 10,000 inhabitants, Adelaide, is a staggering 2,100km (1,305 miles) away; that’s roughly the distance from London to Casablanca, Morocco.

The capital of Western Australia is a four-hour flight to Sydney, and is actually closer to Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia geographically.

As well as being remote, it’s also really spread out. Perth spans 2,478 square miles, which makes it only slightly smaller than London, despite the fact its population is almost four times lower.

But while it’s far away from well, everything, Perth isn’t exactly off-grid – far from it.

The truth is, when you’re in Perth, you don’t really notice that you’re in the middle of nowhere.

A modern city in a thriving country, Perth has everything you’d expect: from nightclubs and shopping malls, to an efficient public transport system.

Is Perth really the most remote city in the world?

It’s worth noting that Perth’s status as the most remote city is debatable.

For example, Iquitos, Peru, could be contender, given it has no roads leading in or out and is only accessible via river or air – but the city of Pucallpa is just over 500km away.

There’s also Honolulu, Hawaii, which is a mind-bending 3,858km from San Francisco, USA, the nearest major city. That being said, it’s close to other, vibrant areas on the island of Oahu, such as Waikiki Beach.

Some New Zealanders might think they claim the crown too, as Auckland is 2,168km away from Sydney, the nearest city of a comparable size.

There are also those that would argue that Perth is actually very close to its nearest city: Fremantle, 40 minutes away by car. However, most consider Fremantle to be a suburb of Perth, rather than a separate city altogether.

The ARIA+ index is a measurement of remoteness, created by the Australian Government. It measures remoteness based on road distance to the nearest urban areas. Perth is considered highly accessible, with a value of 0 out of 15 on the index.

So, if you want to get technical, Perth might not actually be the most isolated city on Earth. That said, there’s no city of similar size anywhere in the world as remote, explaining why you might hear it referred to as such.

What are the cons of living in Perth?

There are, of course, some downsides. People living in Perth need to be prepared to travel if they want to catch up with friends and relatives elsewhere. The city is closer to the likes of Indonesia than it is to Sydney, on the east coast. For British expats, the quickest direct flight to London is a staggering 17 hours.

The job market is also competitive. With over 2.3 million living in Greater Perth, that’s a lot of people all vying for the same jobs – unless you’re willing to look elsewhere and consider a very, very long commute.

You’re also less likely to be able to catch your favourite bands. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour did not touch down in Perth and it was bad news for Swifties, as despite hitting more than 54 cities on her Era’s Tour, Taylor Swift did not make an appearance in Western Australia.

On the Ask An Australian subreddit, residents shared their biggest woes of living in such an isolated place.

‘There’s good food there but less restaurant diversity than east,’ wrote on poster. ‘Less artistic and cultural diversity too… some complain that Perth is also culturally way behind eastern cities and there’s also something to that.’

‘Perth is boring,’ added another. ‘There’s not a lot to do. Our beaches are nice, but if you aren’t into that lifestyle you are limited.’

A third added that a lack of innovation was a problem. ‘This can make it difficult for innovative ideas to flourish, since we’re in our little “bubble” here.’

What do people like about living in Perth?

There’s also a lot of people online willing to share what they loved about their city – particularly the laid-back vibes.

‘Perth has incredible weather,’ began one happy poster. ‘We have the most incredible beaches accessible from a large city – they’re truly amazing. Because of the weather and the coastline the Perth lifestyle is very laid back and relaxed.’

Others agreed: ‘We are also seen as quite laidback, chill people who love surfing and AFL (Australian Football League). We just live more relaxed because of our isolation.’

This article was first published on September 3, 2024.

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From the Eurostar to a new high-speed rail service that connects Paris to Turin (Milan), it’s easy to travel around Europe via train.

Interrailing continues to grow in popularity, with a record-breaking 1.2 million Eurail and Interrail passes sold worldwide in 2023 — a 25% growth from the year before.

But one country that’s no so well connected to the rest of the continent, is Turkey.

Turkey is home to many holiday destinations, with Istanbul, Kusadasi, Bodrum and Marmaris among the areas British tourists flock to every year.

But if you want to get there via train, it’s not so easy. Currently, it takes a staggering 12 hours to travel the 330 miles between Istanbul, which famously straddles Europe and Asia, to the nearest capital city, Sofia, in Bulgaria (excluding Turkey’s own capital, Ankara).

To put that into perspective, that’s the same distance from London to Edinburgh, which takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes via train.

But now, the Turkish government is testing a new high-speed rail link, for easier travel between Istanbul to the border of the European Union.

According to Railway Supply, the train route, named Halkali-Kapikule, will connect Halkali (a region of Istanbul) and Kapikule, on the border of Bulgaria, via an upgraded railway, which began construction in 2017. The expected journey time is around three hours.

The project also includes extending the line to Sofia.

Also known as the Silk Railway, authorities say that by 2028, nearly 3.4 million people will benefit from this link.

The line will belong to the Trans‐European Transport Network (TEN‐T) that connects member countries of the European Union.

Visit Europe's oldest city in Bulgaria

Founded in 6000 BC, history buffs should head to Plovdiv, in Bulgaria.

The Old Town, which mixes medieval and 19th Century architecture, is where you’ll find historic architecture as well as the city’s museums.

And the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolisiconic, a Roman amphitheatre, which was only discovered after a landslide in the 70s, is one of the world’s best-preserved ancient theatres.

A trip to the Ethnographic Museum will reveal more about the city’s history, where you’ll find folk costumes, musical instruments, and tools related to traditional crafts.

Kapana, the city’s bohemian quarter, has become the cultural heart of Plovdiv in recent years, boasting boutique shops, galleries, wine bars, restaurants, and beer halls.

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The American ‘breastaurant’ Hooters has announced plans to expand in the UK.

An advert for fifty ‘girls’ has reportedly been posted online, seeking waiting staff to wear the infamous uniform of tight low-cut white vests, and teeny tiny orange shorts.

For so-called ‘Hooters Girls’, the uniform is compulsory, and only women are able to apply.

Yes, it’s 2025, and apparently a market for Hooters still exists.

The chain with founded back in Florida on April Fools Day 1983 as a joke among a group of six men, with no restaurant experience. The name, of course, comes from a slang term for women’s breasts.

Fast forward more than 40 years and there are 400 branches in the USA – but just two in the UK, in Nottingham and Liverpool.

While the Nottingham Hooters is a long-standing fixture of the city, having opened in 1998, the chain has tried, with varying degrees of success, to expand here.

Plans are often met with objections from locals and councillors, who site the objection of women as a reason not to allow the chain to operate in their areas.

The first UK branch was actually opened in Birmingham in 1998, only to close 18 months later. There have also be short-lived outlets in Bristol and Cardiff.

An earlier proposal to open in Newcastle in 2015 came to nothing when police said it could attract more stag and hen dos, which could see a spike in crime.

The Liverpool branch opened in 2022, to the horror of mayor Joanne Anderson, who criticised Hooters’ ‘infamously sexually objectifying and misogynistic environment’, while Labour councillor Maria Toolan called it ‘demeaning and degrading’.

The Merseyside police commissioner at the time, Emily Spurrell, also added: ‘A Hooters bar only works to undermine our efforts to tackle misogyny & the objectification of women. This is 2022 not 1982.’

Now, the chain is readying to open in the Brigg’s Market area of Newcastle, with a date set for the end of February.

It’s thought the success of this new North East location could determine whether further branches are opened in the future.

But locals are already voicing their concerns.

Professor of geography at Newcastle University, Jen Bagelman, told The Guardian it was ‘horrible’, adding: ‘we can do better than this.’

Over on X, one user wrote: ‘We are going backwards so much it’s insane,’ while Newcastle local Mandy Buchanan wrote: ‘It’s disgusting that it’s coming to my city. I shall object with everything I’ve got.’

And another said: ‘Horrendous to see young women being exploited and reduced to sexual objects like this. I hope Newcastle shows them the door.’

And women’s charity FiLiA gave a statement from policy director Kruti Walsh on X, saying: ‘Violence Against Women and Girls is an epidemic so we firmly oppose plans to expand a chain that treats women as objects to be served up alongside chicken wings & fries.’

But franchise co-owner Johnny Goard, who owns five Hooters in Canada, insisted people have Hooters all wrong.

Speaking to the Guardian, he said: ‘It’s a restaurant. We don’t want to be here as a bar.

‘We do kids eat for free on Sundays. Hooters isn’t what you think it is, what you perceive it to be, until you come in the door.’

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