Julie Delahaye

Unity Holidays is offering a £100 food and drink voucher for summer breaks booked by September 28, 2026, using code UNITY100. The offer applies across its three UK parks—Unity Beach in Somerset, Skirlington in Yorkshire and Seven Lakes—with stays starting at £209 and discounts of up to 25%. The parks have undergone a £10 million transformation featuring new pools, lidos, water parks, upgraded venues and activities, while comparable food and drink promotions are available from Haven and Parkdean Resorts.

Unity Holidays has three UK holiday parks with summer family breaks priced from £209, including Unity Beach in Somerset, Skirlington in Yorkshire and Seven Lakes. Following multimillion-pound renovations, the parks feature lidos, splash parks, pools, trampoline parks and various family activities. Bookings for stays between 3 July and 28 September 2026 qualify for a £100 food-and-drink voucher using code UNITY100. Unity Beach’s new lido includes two heated pools and was opened by former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies. Other operators, including Haven, Parkdean Resorts and Butlin’s, also have discounted last-minute summer availability.

The Mirror introduces The Money Brief, a free newsletter delivered every two weeks with accessible personal finance news, tips, deals, and updates on government schemes, banks, and utility providers. The newsletter aims to explain topics such as interest rates, ISAs, and investing without jargon, while noting that its content is not financial or legal advice.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its France travel advice to highlight the high risk of wildfires from April to October, following fires across southern France and other parts of Europe. More than 10,000 people were evacuated from communities in the French Pyrenees, while Tour de France spectators were urged to avoid an affected area so emergency vehicles could pass. Travellers are advised to monitor France’s fire-alert map, follow local evacuation and road-closure instructions, and call 18 or 112 in an emergency.

Thea Rule took her five-year-old son Roman out of school for a week in Majorca after the school refused authorised absence. She received a £160 fine but says travelling during term time saved the family £1,280 compared with booking during the school holidays. Rule argues that the trip provided educational and family benefits and would not affect her son's progress. The article also explains that fines in England are charged per parent and per child, can rise from £80 to £160 if unpaid promptly, and may be higher for repeat offences, potentially reducing the financial advantage of term-time travel.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its Italy travel guidance, warning holidaymakers to take extra care around beaches, lakes and swimming pools due to annual drownings. Families are urged to closely supervise children and stay within arm’s reach near water, including at pools with lifeguards. Travellers visiting lakes such as Garda and Como are advised to test water temperatures to avoid cold-water shock, while beachgoers are cautioned about strong undercurrents, hidden rocks and the importance of following flag systems. Additional advice highlights risks from unexpected waves, lack of lifeguards and the presence of jellyfish.

Unity Holidays has invested millions of pounds transforming three UK holiday parks: Skirlington Coast in Yorkshire, Unity Beach in Somerset and Seven Lakes in Lincolnshire. Upgrades include lidos, splash parks, boardwalks, restaurants, entertainment venues, trampoline parks, watersports and bookable activities. Summer family breaks are advertised from £299, with a £100 food-and-drink voucher available for qualifying bookings made for stays between July 3 and September 28, 2026. The article also highlights lower-priced alternatives from Parkdean Resorts, Haven and Away Resorts.

UK consumers who held PCP or Hire Purchase car-finance agreements between April 2007 and November 2024 may have been affected by hidden-commission mis-selling. The article says about 12.1 million agreements could be involved and that the FCA redress scheme may provide an average payout of £829, although four legal challenges have created uncertainty. Consumers who check their agreements and complain before June 30, 2026, may be included in the first payout wave. The promotional feature directs readers to MakeAPCPClaim, operated by Fountain Finance with HD Law, while noting that consumers can also complain directly to their lender, the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FCA scheme for free.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Cyprus and Turkey amid continuing uncertainty related to the Middle East conflict and a reported US-Iran memorandum of understanding. It has not advised against travel to either country, apart from an existing warning against travel within 10km of Turkey’s Syrian border. British travelers are advised to monitor developments, maintain flexible departure plans, avoid security and military facilities, follow local authorities’ instructions, and prepare for possible renewed hostilities. The article also notes that a travel warning for the UAE has been lifted.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has removed its advice against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, after issuing the warning in March amid the Middle East conflict. However, it cautions that regional tensions remain unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice. British nationals are advised to monitor developments, follow local authorities, avoid security and military facilities, keep travel documents and departure plans ready, and shelter indoors if hostilities restart. The guidance also warns that Iran has previously targeted civilian and strategic infrastructure across the Gulf.

A two-year-old can enjoy Walt Disney World, despite the costs, long journey and logistical challenges of traveling with a toddler. Magic Kingdom offers classic rides, while EPCOT and Animal Kingdom are particularly suitable for their quieter attractions, walk-through experiences and opportunities to explore during naps. Hollywood Studios also has toddler-friendly areas and shows, though parents should plan for queues without prams, naps, snacks and transport. The experience is best managed by lowering expectations, prioritising a few major attractions and making time for parades, play areas and slower-paced family activities.

Anti-tourism campaigners in Majorca and Menorca are planning demonstrations against mass tourism, including a major protest in Palma on July 26 and marches in Menorca on June 13. The group Menys turisme, mes vida warns that the Balearic Islands face severe pressure from overcrowding, housing shortages and strained infrastructure, with the August 12 total solar eclipse expected to attract even more visitors. Protesters are calling for government action, potentially including visitor caps, tourism taxes and tighter regulation of holiday rentals. Similar demonstrations and anti-tourism actions have taken place in the Canary Islands.

Universal has officially named its planned Bedfordshire attraction the Universal United Kingdom Resort and marked the project’s groundbreaking ceremony with government officials including Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The resort is expected to feature at least six themed lands, three major rollercoasters and additional attractions, though Universal has not confirmed the specific intellectual properties or rides. Opening is planned for May 2031, with Comcast NBCUniversal committing more than £5 billion during construction and a further £1 billion over the first decade. The UK government is also upgrading nearby road and rail infrastructure, while the project is expected to attract millions of visitors, create tens of thousands of jobs and generate substantial economic growth.

TUI says travellers can find return flights from £30 by regularly checking its dedicated Cheap Flights page, particularly a few weeks before departure when remaining seats may be discounted. The approach requires flexibility over dates and destinations, with example fares including £30 to Majorca, £63 to Ibiza and £82 to Tenerife. TUI says the strategy can also apply to long-haul destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico and Thailand, while Skyscanner's Anywhere feature and easyJet's Inspire me tool offer alternative ways to identify cheap flights.

Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, will open on July 1, 2026, becoming Universal’s first theme park specifically designed for children. The resort will feature seven themed lands based on Shrek, Jurassic World, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minions, Trolls, Puss in Boots and Gabby’s Dollhouse, alongside a 300-room hotel. Tickets and hotel packages are already available, with direct flights from London to Dallas/Fort Worth available for UK visitors. Universal is also progressing plans for a major UK theme park in Bedfordshire, which is expected to create around 8,000 permanent jobs, support 20,000 construction jobs and provide a significant boost to the UK economy.

The UK Foreign Office has updated travel advice for Uganda, Angola and the Central African Republic following an Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirmed cases in Uganda. Travellers may face enhanced health screenings and other entry measures, while neighbouring countries including Kenya and Tanzania have also strengthened precautions. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, but health and tourism officials say the risk to travellers on standard itineraries outside affected areas remains very low and no blanket travel bans have been introduced.

Travel expert Chelsea Dickenson says travellers could save around £285 per person on a seven-night holiday by considering a two-star hotel instead of a four-star property. TravelSupermarket research found that downgrading from four to three stars could save about £200 per person, while moving from three to two stars could save roughly £75. Dickenson argues that star ratings often reflect facilities rather than cleanliness, comfort, style or service, and illustrates the point with her positive experience at the two-star Boho Suites in Mykonos.

Tourists visiting popular destinations in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Croatia are warned that wearing swimwear or going shirtless away from beaches and pools can lead to substantial fines. Penalties range from around €150 in parts of Croatia to as much as €1,500 in Albufeira, Portugal, while several Italian resorts and Spanish cities impose fines of up to €500. The restrictions generally apply in town centres, shops and restaurants rather than on beaches or at pools.

A 10p Platform Ticket may allow people who are not travelling by train to access a station platform, potentially helping commuters shorten walks or accompany passengers. The ticket is valid only at the station where it is issued, cannot be used for train journeys, and is not available at every station. National Rail says tickets are sold at the discretion of station staff, with no charge for assisting disabled passengers.

Cappadocia is presented as Türkiye’s “Land of Fairytales,” known for its surreal volcanic formations, hot air balloons, rock churches, pigeon valleys and extensive underground cities such as Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı. The feature also recommends cycling through Cappadocia’s valleys, staying in luxury cave hotels and using Istanbul as a gateway to the region. Additional Istanbul experiences include Bosphorus cruises, the Spice and Grand Bazaars, Galataport, İstiklal Street and traditional hammam treatments.

Travel editor Julie Delahaye visits the 21,500-square-foot McDonald's in Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, described as the world's biggest. Despite an initial impression that it was an ordinary McDonald's and a queue outside, she finds service quick due to more than 20 ordering kiosks. The three-storey restaurant offers extensive seating, a McCafé, outdoor terrace views and a large soft-play area with a slide running between floors. Overall, its size, family facilities, convenient location and affordable, speedy service make it more impressive and useful than a standard fast-food restaurant.

Solar panels could help UK households save more than £500 a year in some cities, although savings depend on location, system size, usage and other factors. Installation costs average about £6,100, but panels can reduce reliance on grid electricity and allow surplus power to be sold through the Smart Export Guarantee. Battery storage can extend savings into peak evening periods, while using appliances during daylight hours improves the value of generated electricity. Government plans for plug-in balcony solar panels could make smaller-scale generation more accessible.