I travel to Spain every month – 12 stunning and cheap destinations Spaniards love that Brits have never heard of
Exclusive
COSTA LITTLE I travel to Spain every month – 12 stunning and cheap destinations Spaniards love that Brits have never heard of
The collection of stunning resorts are unknown by most Brits - and one stretch of coast has even been named as a California dupe, says travel writer Lee Bell
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits on holiday abroad told 'check' luggage before unpacking
Brits heading abroad this summer are being urged to inspect hotel beds before unpacking, as bedbug infestations and scabies cases continue to surge across the UK with August and September being peak months Holidaymakers heading abroad this summer are being urged to carry out a quick check before unpacking, as cases of bedbugs and scabies are rising across the UK. Alarmingly, councils have reported a 35 per cent increase in bedbug infestations since 2022, while the NHS saw a 74 per cent rise in diagnosed scabies cases in hospitals last year. August and September have been recorded as the peak months for bedbugs, a time when many travel lovers will be jetting off overseas. With this in mind, Brits are being told to stay alert or risk bringing home more than a suitcase of laundry. Check the bed Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, is warning that pests like bedbugs and scabies can easily travel back with you from a hotel, no matter how fancy it seems. 'Check mattress seams, bed frames, and behind headboards for signs of bedbugs before settling in and unpacking your belongings. Make sure to never place your bags directly on the hotel bed,' he advises. Putting your suitcase on your bed could be all it takes to bring an infestation home. What to look for Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown insects that live in fabric and bedding. 'If you suspect bed bugs, act quickly. Check for tell-tale signs like small reddish-brown spots on your sheets, moulted skins, or clusters of tiny bites on your skin, often in a line or zig-zag pattern. You'll usually find bed bugs in the seams and folds of your mattress if they have decided to take residence,' says Seeley. Scabies, meanwhile, are caused by mites that burrow into your skin and spread through contact, including bedding. 'Scabies infections cause intense itching due to being burrowed under the skin, which becomes particularly noticeable at night and can make it very difficult to sleep.' He adds: 'Common signs that you might be infected when trying to sleep include persistent itching (especially between your fingers, or around your wrists, elbows, waist, and genitals) and small red bumps or track-like burrows on your skin.' How to stay protected 'When staying in hotels or holiday rentals, a quick inspection can go a long way,' Seeley says. 'Check mattress seams, bed frames, and behind headboards… Instead, keep your bags elevated on a chair or stool, and if you're worried your hotel room isn't as clean as you'd like, then only take out what you need and leave the rest of your clothes in your bag.' If you do return home with bedbugs or scabies, fast action is essential. 'When attempting to eradicate bedbugs, begin by vacuuming thoroughly and remember to dispose of the collected dirt immediately in an outside bin. Wash and dry all bedding or clothes… and consider steam cleaning your sofa in case they've transferred there too.' Scabies also requires deep cleaning: 'Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water (at least 60°C)… Any items that can't be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours… You should also make sure that anyone in your household who may have been exposed is treated at the same time to prevent re-infestation.' Tips for sleeping better while treating symptoms 'Reactions to bedbug bites include itchiness, swelling and welts… The best course of action to relieve itching and discomfort… is taking an antihistamine and keeping the room cool.' 'To get better sleep while treating scabies, apply a prescribed topical treatment at bedtime… Itching can sometimes continue for weeks after being successfully treated, so… keeping the room cool and your bedding lightweight can help to ease irritation… trimming your nails can prevent you from scratching too hard in your sleep and causing an infection.' Prevention is key The expert says: 'Investing in a high-quality mattress protector is also a wise move… You should remove and wash your mattress protector regularly, hoover your bed frame, wipe down your headboard, and dust any areas around your bed frequently.'
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I accidentally booked into a SEX hotel... here is what it was like
When your company send you abroad for a job it's hard not to envision yourself as one of those fabulous women sauntering through the airport in a tailor-made suit. And when I was told I was being sent to Madrid I was over the moon. In anticipation, I concocted a plan for my first night: check-in and walk into the local town for a glass of sangria. So when the taxi driver confirmed the name of my hotel three times and I got dropped off on the side of the Spanish highway at a steel gate you can imagine my disappointment. Nevertheless, in a state of delusion that could only have been brought on by the Spanish sunshine I was confident my hotel would look just like the pictures and there would be a lovely outdoor spot for me to sit and read my book before bed. I don't think the hotel had ever had a visitor arrive by foot and so I was forced to stand in between two cars and queue for the 'reception'. I was given some very funny looks by glammed up women and meek looking men behind the wheel - I assumed it was because I was a clueless Brit standing in a queue of cars - but just be sure while I was waiting, I thought why not check the reviews. 'If a discrete and a non-intrusive hotel is what you are looking for, this is the place. An "Adults Only" establishment' one read 'Perfect for a romantic getaway' added another. Pictured: An array of 'spicy' menus available in the hotel room -they were scattered on the side table along with branded ash trays My first thought was to panic, frantically looking for nearby hotels on my phone, but then it was my go to speak to the receptionist through a screen and as she handing me my key card I thought how bad can this really be? Instead of walking to a hotel entrance I was confronted by a row of numbered garage doors - with number 123 open and ready for me to enter. I walked in and the barrier rattled down, leaving me in the dark, luckily I grabbed onto a rusted spiral staircase and climbed up to my room. After an initial inspection of the bathroom, which seemed clean enough I thought why not just lock the doors and firm staying here for the night. The room was scattered with branded ash trays and gave off the faint stench of sweat and cigarettes but once I blasted on the aircon it seemed good to go. A perk of this 'adults only' room was the King sized bed and as I lay down to inspect its comfort levels, I found myself staring at my own reflection, I sat back up and there I was again... the room was covered in mirrors. Slightly freaked out I switched the lights on as the small blacked out window wasn't providing much natural lighting but the minute I flicked the switch the whole room turned blue. While this might have been enough to encourage someone to check out, the blue LED light was actually the feature that encouraged me to stay, because it would have illuminated any unseemly stains on the mattress and there were none! Trying to stick to my original plan I decided to order room service. There was an array of menus littered around the room and so I grabbed the first one I saw. I opened it up and inside was an immense assortment of condoms, glow in the dark vibrators and handcuffs. Unfortunately, I didn't fancy eating flavoured lube for dinner and I was able to locate a menu. 20 minutes later I heard a knock on a cupboard I opened it up and inside was a tray with my dinner on, and while many people would argue that salmon was a rogue choice, it was surprisingly good. After a bit of Netflix and a high pressure shower I fell asleep and because the rooms were fantastically sound-proofed I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. Now would I recommend staying here? Absolutely not. But one thing I've learned is to always give something a go!
Edinburgh Live
9 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Brit gobsmacked by prices in 'unreal' Spanish supermarket and warns 'we've been had'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Brits have become all too accustomed to forking out a small fortune for groceries in UK supermarkets, but venturing abroad can be a real eye-opener. For Cavan O'Grady, a trip to Spain with his mum to celebrate her 63rd birthday was a wake-up call. While staying with his aunt in La Línea de la Concepción, near Gibraltar, it was a visit to a local Carrefour supermarket that left him speechless. Basking in the 30-degree sunshine was a bonus, but what really caught Cavan's attention was the staggering difference in food prices compared to back home. The 27 year old from Birmingham took to social media, captioning a clip: "Spanish supermarkets are a different level". READ MORE - Chris Tarrant savages Phillip Schofield as he points out 'nasty little trick' READ MORE - Brooklyn Beckham's decision could leave sister Harper 'devastated' amid family feud As he wandered the aisles, he exclaimed: "TikTok, I'm going to tell you something, Spain knows how to do it in these supermarkets." Cavan was blown away by the sheer scale of the store and the freshness of the produce on offer. "This would make you want to eat like a king out here. And do you know what, price-wise, it's so much cheaper here than it is back home.", reports the Mirror. For Cavan, this was just another reason to love visiting Spain – a clear "win" in his books. One local expressed gratitude, saying: "Thank you very much for saying what no one ever says, there is good agriculture, livestock, fishing, we have everything in our country." Another person enthused: "Mercadona is one of the crown jewels." Sharing her experience, one woman said: "I live in Spain, it's a lot cheaper to live there than in the UK, the bills are cheaper too,". There were some comments suggesting that "Spain was a paradise not long ago," but lamented that now it's become "too expensive" relative to incomes. (Image: Jam Press) (Image: Jam Press) (Image: Jam Press) Cav revealed his realisation about UK prices by stating: "It showed me how we're getting absolutely had on products in the UK. I was genuinely overwhelmed by the quality and prices on offer in that Spanish supermarket." Beyond the grocery shopping experience, he was also blown away by the local gym facilities, rating them a perfect "10/10". Describing his fitness pursuits, he said: "I wanted to find a proper bodybuilding gym, which I found, and the gym is sick, the equipment's sick, and the locals are really nice and friendly," and assured that he'd be returning to that gym during his stay with his mum. In a further video comment, Cav suggested a change might be on the horizon: "TikTok, I might actually move to Spain [...] This is the life for me... Might have to be a quick move here, lads".
