Julie Delahaye

Koper, Slovenia, is promoted as an affordable and less crowded alternative to Venice, offering Venetian-influenced architecture, waterfront cafés, cobbled streets and nearby coastal attractions such as Piran. Pints average £3, local wine costs about £3.50, and many Old Town sights are free. Marella Cruises has reported a 39% rise in Google searches for Koper, which features on its Adriatic Explorer itinerary aboard Marella Voyager. The town can be reached from the UK via Trieste or Ljubljana, with direct flights available from airlines including easyJet, British Airways and Wizz Air, and accommodation starting at around £87 per night.

Expedia research identifies November as a potentially affordable and quieter month for travel in 2026, with international stays averaging 10% cheaper than in summer and autumn hotel rates falling by about 7%. Destinations highlighted for warm weather and value include the Algarve, Greek Islands, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Malta, the Caribbean, southern Australia and Marrakech, while Luxembourg, Sarandë, Budva and Ljubljana are among the fastest-growing autumn destinations. UK staycation options include Stirling, Harrogate, Durham, Norwich and the Cotswolds. The report also lists specific November dates for cheaper or quieter flights and hotel stays, while warning that November 11, 18 and 19 are among the most expensive flight dates.

Ksamil in Albania ranked 19th in Big 7 Travel’s 2026 list of the world’s 50 best beaches, placing it above Dhigura Beach in the Maldives at 22nd. The article highlights Ksamil’s growing popularity among British tourists and Thomas Cook’s reported 293% year-on-year rise in Albania bookings, while travel agents caution that long transfers, limited flight options and developing resorts mean the destination is not yet ideal for traditional package holidays. Dhigura is praised for its white sands, lagoons and opportunities to swim with whale sharks and manta rays.

Whitesands Beach in Pembrokeshire has been ranked 31st in Big 7 Travel’s 2026 list of the world’s 50 best beaches, making it the only Welsh beach included and placing it ahead of destinations in Hawaii, New Zealand, Saint Lucia and Australia. The article highlights its golden sands, surf, cliffs, coastal paths and facilities, while noting seasonal dog restrictions, strong currents, busy conditions and changing suitability for swimming and surfing.

The UK Foreign Office has updated travel advice for 30 Schengen-area countries as biometric Entry/Exit System checks are introduced for British visitors. Travellers may need to provide fingerprints and photographs at border control, including children in some cases, but no action is required before reaching the border. The system is free, records are valid for three years, and checks may take place before departure at Dover, Folkestone or St Pancras. Greece has temporarily relaxed the requirement during the summer to reduce delays and queues.

El Hierro is presented as a quieter alternative to the more crowded Canary Islands, offering volcanic beaches, rugged cliffs, natural swimming pools, hiking trails and renowned scuba-diving sites. The island maintains a sustainability-focused tourism model with boutique hotels and eco-friendly accommodation, while its small size makes it accessible for exploration. UK visitors must connect through Tenerife or Gran Canaria because there are no direct flights to El Hierro.

Travel agent Ashley Quint of Traveltime World says long-haul destinations such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Canada and Japan can offer better value than high-end all-inclusive holidays in Greece, Spain or Italy during July and August. The trade-off is less reliable weather, including monsoon conditions in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Mauritius offers warm but milder temperatures, while less crowded destinations may suit travelers focused on exploring rather than guaranteed sunshine. Madeira and Croatia are also gaining interest as traditional summer destinations become more expensive, particularly for upscale all-inclusive packages.

Travel editor Julie Delahaye recommends skipping in-flight meals when trying to sleep, particularly on night or long-haul flights. She says meal service can delay sleep, disrupt the body clock and leave passengers feeling sluggish or queasy. Instead, she advises eating a proper meal at the airport, packing suitable snacks and breakfast foods, drinking water, and notifying cabin crew or using a do-not-disturb feature to avoid being woken during meal service.

New Quay in Ceredigion has been ranked the UK's best coastal town in a Holidaycars.com study, ahead of popular destinations in Cornwall and Devon. The town was praised for its Victorian houses, beaches, harbour, water activities and relatively moderate tourist levels. Other Welsh locations also placed in the top 20: Barmouth fifth, Tenby eighth and Trearddur Bay 18th.

The Foreign Office has updated travel advice for 29 Schengen countries following the introduction of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System. British travellers may need to provide fingerprints and a facial photograph when entering or leaving the Schengen area, with registration free of charge and generally completed at the border. The system may increase processing times, applies different procedures for some UK entry points, excludes Ireland and Cyprus, and creates a digital record valid for three years.

Five scenic destinations and walking routes in Wales are highlighted as accessible by public transport. Suggestions include exploring Eryri National Park via rail and Sherpa bus services, walking sections of the Wales Coastal Path from Conwy, visiting Barmouth’s beach and harbour, accessing Offa’s Dyke Path between Ruabon and Chirk, and reaching the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from stations near Pembroke and Tenby. The piece promotes Transport for Wales’s Woven through Wales campaign and its emphasis on everyday journeys across Wales and the Borders.

NHS waiting lists in Wales are driving more residents to consider private healthcare, including faster-access MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. HealthWindow, through a free whole-of-market brokerage service, helps consumers compare private medical insurance quotes from providers including Bupa, Vitality and AXA, with plans advertised from £25 a month. Premiums can be reduced through measures such as choosing a voluntary excess or excluding higher-cost hospitals, while age, smoking status, location and coverage level also affect pricing. The piece highlights continuing growth in private treatment and consultant numbers alongside persistent NHS delays.

Luxury Lodges is marketing fully furnished holiday properties priced from £295,000 across resorts in West Wales, Cornwall, County Durham, the Lake District and Northumberland. The lodges offer high-end amenities and design features, while owners are promised exemptions from second-home stamp duty and council tax, flexible finance with a 20% deposit, and a managed subletting programme claiming average annual returns of 8–10% and guaranteed rental yields for the first two years.

The 2.5-mile Porthdinllaen Circular on the Llŷn Peninsula is highlighted as one of the UK's easiest scenic walks, taking around one to two hours and offering coastal views, wildlife, Ty Coch beach, and sightings of grey seals. The National Trust route begins and ends at Morfa Nefyn car park, is dog-friendly, and includes refreshments at the Ty Coch Inn, though some inclines require care. A study by AllClear Travel Insurance ranked it tenth globally alongside the shorter Blue Trail at Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway.

OK! Beauty Box has launched the free Red Carpet Club, offering members exclusive beauty-product launches, VIP sales, expert tips and insider content by email and SMS. Members can also access limited-edition boxes and receive a £5 voucher for the Beauty Shop after signing up.

Wales Online promotes a commemorative box containing six historic editions of the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and OK! Magazine devoted to Queen Elizabeth II. The collection includes tribute issues published after her death and funeral editions released after the state funeral on 19 September 2022, featuring coverage of her 70-year reign, coronation, royal tours and Platinum Jubilee. The box is marketed to royal supporters and history enthusiasts and is available for home delivery through historic-newspapers.co.uk.