Win a seven-day Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruises worth £4,200
You'll board the ship in Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome, before sailing to Naples, the gorgeous Greek islands of Crete and Mykonos, and the Turkish beach resort town Kusadasi. As you'll be staying in a balcony stateroom, you'll have plenty of opportunities to take in the view en route as well as when you get off the ship to explore. The journey finishes in Piraeus, the port of Athens.
Included in the prize are economy flights from the UK and transfers in destination up to the value of £400 per person, all meals in the main restaurant (there's an extra fee for speciality dining), entertainment, drinks, wi-fi package and gratuities. The sailing date is May 2, 2026.
For more information, click here.
For your chance to win, simply vote in each category in this year's Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. There are 17 categories in total.
Click here to vote.
For the full list of prizes, see here.Promotion closes at 23.59pm on August 31, 2025. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Winner and guest responsible for getting to and from UK airport at their own expense. Subject to availability, Prize is only applicable to the single departure date provided (May 2, 2026). Prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. Winner and his/her guest(s) must travel on same itinerary. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with same booking. The Prize does not include travel insurance (adequate insurance is a condition of travel), parking, pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, shore excursions, spa treatments, personal expenses, casino, or additional gratuities. The Winner and their guest must have a full valid passport (with validity for six months or more beyond the date of travel) to take the trip. The Winner of the cruise will be bound by Princess Cruises' booking terms and conditions and policies (visit princess.com). Princess Cruises reserves the right to substitute a Prize of equal or greater value and reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend or amend the promotion or withdraw the Prize where it becomes necessary to do so, including but not limited to where the cruise is cancelled for reasons outside of Princess Cruises' reasonable control. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Prize is subject to global travel restrictions. Princess Cruises will use the personal data you provide for the purpose of administering this competition and to facilitate redemption of Prize. Personal data will be processed in accordance with Princess Cruises' privacy notice at www.princess.com/legal/. Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at newsprivacy.co.uk and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd. Full T&Cs apply — see thetimes.com/traveltermsandconditions.
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Times
2 hours ago
- Times
I've found Europe's best sleeper train — and at just £62 you'll need to be quick
What does 'dolce vita' mean to you? Maybe it's the film — Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg giving 1960s glamour in the Trevi Fountain. Maybe it's a state of mind — effortless elegance with a side of excellent food. Or maybe it's slow travel through the bel paese — April marked the launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express, an overnight train as luxurious as it is expensive, from £3,605 for 24 hours. But I know another dolce vita train. It's significantly cheaper (from £62 for 18 hours) and a little less plush. Yet stepping on to it — my bags carried by a burgundy-jacketed carriage attendant — I still gasped with delight. As we trundled alongside Roman walls and emerged into the Lazio countryside, I found myself inexplicably emotional. Maybe it was watching eager travellers clink glasses in the scarlet-chaired restaurant as jazz tinkled in the background. Maybe it was nostalgia on this retro train, studded with vintage photos from the glory days of travel. Maybe it was listening to the multilingual announcements — Italian, French, then English — narrating our journey up the Mediterranean coastline. Or it could, I suppose, have been the prosecco. This time-travelling train, the Espresso Riviera, is a limited edition. It'll run weekly until the end of August from Rome to Marseille and back. It leaves Rome just before 8pm each Friday, proceeds up the Tyrrhenian coastline overnight and reaches Genoa at dawn. Then it continues along the Italian Riviera, before crossing the French border and sweeping along the Côte d'Azur, arriving at Marseille just before 2pm on Saturday. Turning straight around, it reaches Sanremo for sunset and is back in Rome at 6.48am on Sunday. Eighteen hours on a single train sounds like a lower circle of purgatory and — as a reluctant regular on the Rome-Palermo Intercity Notte — my general opinion of sleepers is to avoid them whenever possible. But this? This is different. It's an unabashed wallow in the golden era of train travel, so is railway heaven. The operator, FS Treni Turistici Italiani, launched in 2023 as the luxury, leisure-focused arm of FS Italiane, the Italian state railway organisation. It runs a handful of routes a year and, until now, hadn't appealed to me — a Rome-Dolomites weekend jaunt (nice for Romans); Milan-Nice (beautiful but short). But Rome to Marseille? Waking up on the Italian Riviera? Chugging along the Cote d'Azur? Count me in — especially if I could build it into a no-fly journey from Italy to the UK. At Termini, the gargantuan station in Rome, the departures board glowed with extra joie de vivre. Salerno, Venezia, Milano … Marseille! On platform 22 stood a hulking diesel locomotive — so far, so Intercity. But the carriages attached to it were more Orient Express — striped navy and jade; those burgundy-blazered attendants (one for each carriage) welcoming passengers aboard. These are 1990s Intercity carriages, rescued from retirement and refurbished, with five classes pairing 21st-century standards with mid-century style. I took these trains in my youth — they were horrid, even to a penniless student; but horrid no more. Second class alone makes a mockery of first class on UK trains — individual compartments of six plush armchairs, upholstered in royal blue (get one to yourself, raise the arms and sleep across them, as one couple did). • Discover our full guide to France The first-class compartments are great for daytime — four velvet armchairs separated by elegant tables, with magazine racks and USB points (regular first class is a velvety version of second). The couchettes are six-seaters that fold down into beds, while the private cabins (sold out at present, but keep checking) are just gorgeous — a wide, blue-velvet armchair, foldout desk, basin and bunkbeds that unfurl into yet more armchairs in the morning. At the end of each carriage is a unisex toilet with art deco-like ribbing on the ceiling (a cheerful cleaning team kept things spotless). The carriages are carpeted in scarlet. • Discover our full guide to Italy But back to the journey. From Termini we crossed Rome underground, emerging into rural Lazio to chase the sun as it set over the Ostia coast. As we turned north, flashing past golden beaches and marinas twinkling in the dusk, I hit the restaurant. How brilliantly old-school to be seated opposite a stranger and served ragu-swirled pasta, pepper-doused chicken and lashings of Ligurian red as we put the world to rights. By the time we staggered out we were rattling round the Maremma coast; in bed — a real mattress and topper, no less, though it's still a rickety, noisy sleeper — I watched on Google Maps as the train inched towards Livorno. Later I opened the curtains to find us slipping through Cinque Terre, the moon reflecting in the sea like a torch, spotlighting the sleeping villages. By 6.30am we were rumbling into Genoa. An hour later, a white-jacketed waiter was serving me a cappuccino and croissant in the restaurant as the Italian Riviera raced past — all never-ending beach and 8am swimmers. Accordion music filled the restaurant car, the onboard musician signalling that we were approaching France. Ah yes, the border. Ventimiglia stands just east of it but is a world away in rail terms. France and Italy use different voltages for their railways, which meant that our carriages would have to be detached from the Italian locomotive and hitched to a French one. This was a project of cross-border co-operation. For an hour I watched as the locomotives waltzed around each other. Off came the Intercity head, revving off towards France before it switched tracks and slid into a siding; from that siding emerged an SNCF locomotive, which shimmied over the tracks and reversed into us, hitting the second-class carriage with a satisfying clunk. And then, stress in two languages. Nobody was sure what happened. Did that clunk break a brake? Did the French have an outdated manual? Official recollections vary, but one thing was certain, we left Italy two hours late. How passengers felt about this depended on their plans. Returning French holidaymakers gleefully made for the restaurant carriage for a long lunch as the Côte d'Azur unspooled. On a five-stage journey to Devon and about to miss parts two, three and four, I appreciated the views (the red cliffs around St Raphaël were particularly ravishing) but was most struck by the nonstop tunnels that stymied my increasingly desperate calls to my travel insurance company. Here is where cross-border travel is less fun — despite its staff having caused the delay, SNCF wouldn't reroute me because this was an Italian train. The upshot: about £750 on new trains, a hotel and a 6am taxi to make my ferry. Pretty hellish, sure, yet nothing can demote this train from railway heaven: real beds, a restaurant carriage, snapshots of summer at every stop, names that shiver with glamour — Cinque Terre, Monte Carlo, Nice, Menton. I've never been on a super-lux sleeper (I'd rather pay my mortgage than ride the Orient Express), but this is as glamorous as anyone needs a train to Buckley was a guest of FS Treni Turistici Italiani, which has shared couchettes from £62 ( The Espresso Riviera runs until August 30. Fly to Rome By Siobhan Grogan Le Train Rouge clatters along 100-year-old tracks over gravity-defying suspension bridges, through tunnels and across flower-filled French Pyrenean meadows on its 35-mile journey from Rivesaltes to the small town of Axat. This journey is one of the day trips in this weeklong break to Catalonia, travelling by rail from London and staying in the Costa Brava resort of Roses. Rail fans will also revel in the day on the Nuria Rack Railway, which travels eight miles to the Nuria Valley, where mountain pastures surround a blue-green lake. Visits to Girona and Figueres, for the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation, provide a culture Seven nights' half-board from £1,299pp, including all rail and coach travel, excursions and wine with dinner ( Reach the French Alpine resort of Chambéry before gunning through the mountains to charming Turin, where sightseeing options include the old Fiat factory, which was immortalised in The Italian Job (1969) and now hosts the largest rooftop garden in Europe. A snaking run to the Adriatic deposits travellers in historic Bari, your base for catching a sleeper ferry to Albania, a land of eagles, hidden beaches and striking socialist architecture. The trip ends with a two-night stay in buzzy Four nights' B&B and two nights' room only from £1,436pp, including all rail travel ( Journey across wintry landscapes on the night train from Stockholm to Kiruna, the northernmost Swedish city, deep inside the Arctic Circle on the banks of frozen Lake Luossajarvi. Activities include snowshoe treks through forests, dog sledding, ice fishing and riding a snowmobile across the tundra, while keeping an eye on the sky for the northern lights. You have three days for Arctic adventures after travelling by train from London via the German city of Münster and Copenhagen, plus two days in Stockholm. Summertime adventures on the same tour take in the midnight sun. Details Eight nights' B&B from £1,149pp ( Fly from Kiruna It's easy and rewarding to explore Slovenia, a tiny land of glacial lakes, ice-capped mountains, vineyards, meadows and a sliver of Adriatic coast, by rail. Your journey takes you from Lake Bled, through a landscape of vineyards and cherry orchards to Bohinjska Bistrica, near the Italian border, before heading south to Ljubljana. After two nights exploring the markets, intriguing streets and riverside cafés of the leafy capital, you're off to the improbably picturesque coastal city of Piran, with its Venetian façades, pretty squares and seafood restaurants. Details Six nights' B&B from £1,080pp, including rail and transfers ( Fly to Ljubljana The graceful baroque heart of Vienna is easy to explore by bike, foot and tram. This eight-night holiday by rail gives you three nights each in the Austrian capital and dreamy Salzburg, with stops in Frankfurt and Zurich. While in Vienna check out the Hofburg Palace and the State Opera, get your art fix at the MuseumsQuartier and gorge on coffee topped with whipped cream in 19th-century cafés. In Salzburg, two hours and 20 minutes from the capital on the speedy Railjet service, there are the legacies of Mozart and the von Trapps to Eight nights' B&B from £1,495pp, including first-class rail travel (
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Travel expert issues warning over simple passport mistakes that will stop you from flying
Holidaymakers jetting off this summer should be aware of some simple issues with their passports that could prevent them from flying. When going on a trip, tourists often have to juggle many different things including travel insurance, transfers and their luggage. But one important factor to consider is your passport – and issues with it could cause problems when arriving at your destination or returning to the UK. Chris Harrington, managing director at transfer company Hoppa, shared his advice for those going away this summer. The travel expert emphasised the importance of making sure your passport isn't too damaged. He explained: 'If your passport is damaged to the extent that it impacts its ability to function or verify who you are, this can lead to it being declared invalid.' Chris advises checking the condition of your passport after booking a trip to avoid problems. He added: 'Once you have booked your holiday, ensure your passport is in good condition and it doesn't have any water damage, tears, rips, stains or any pages are missing. One important factor to consider is your passport and problems with it that could cause problems when arriving at your destination or returning to the UK 'In most cases, minor wear and tear is acceptable, but for anything more severe, you will need to apply for a new passport.' Though life can become busy, it is important to ensure documents such as passports are up to date – including reflecting any changes to personal information – in order to ensure they are still accurate and valid. Chris said: 'Your passport needs to have all of your correct details on. Including name and date of birth, which means if this isn't the case, it could be invalid. 'When making your travel booking, it's important that the details you enter reflect those that are on your passport. 'For example, if you get married and you make the booking with your new surname, the passport needs to also have the same details. 'If you need to apply for a new passport due to getting married, this can be done before or after the ceremony.' Another point to look out for is the expiry date on your passport. Even if it hasn't expired, it's important to note that some countries require the passport to be valid for three months from the departure date. Chris explained: 'One of the common mistakes people make is not being aware of when a passport has expired. 'When you are going abroad, you need to make sure that your passport was issued within the last 10 years of the date you enter the country. 'It's important to remember that this is counted from the date of issue and not the expiry date. 'Alongside the 10-year rule, Brits travelling to the EU and Schengen countries also need to be aware that their passport needs to be valid for at least three months beyond their departure date. 'It's also worth noting that for some destinations, there needs to be 6 months remaining on the passport, so it's important to check the regulations for the country you're travelling to.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Amanda Holden pokes fun at daughter Lexi, 18, sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on family holiday
Amanda Holden poked fun at her daughter Lexi sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on their family holiday in Greece on Wednesday. Lexi, 18, posted the PDA-filled snap on her Instagram of the pair kissing during a luxury boat trip. It sparked Amanda, 54, to repost the loved-up snap on her Stories as she joked: 'Mmm I wonder what daddy will think... [laughing face emoji].' After her playful joke, the mother-of-two later expressed her love for the pair as she commented a heart emoji on Lexi's post. The lovebirds - who went Instagram official in January - rang in the New Year with her mother, father Chris Hughes and younger sister Hollie, 13, in Scotland. Amanda looked nothing short of sensational on Wednesday as she showed off her enviable figure in a yellow string bikini. The TV personality wowed fans as she struck a pose on a luxurious boat during her family holiday. In a snap shared to her Instagram Story, Amanda looked incredible in the skimpy two-piece as she posed by the steering wheel. She shielded her eyes with a pair of gold-framed sunglasses and accessorised with dainty jewellery. Amanda also re-shared a photo of the boat featuring everyone on board, with the caption: 'Captain @noholdenback.' It comes after Amanda revealed her youngest daughter Hollie, 13, has landed her first runway show, walking in London Fashion Week later this year. The radio presenter joked she is the new Kris Jenner as her two lookalike daughters are now following in her showbiz footsteps. Hollie will make her catwalk debut alongside model and university student sister Lexi, 19, who is already signed to Storm Models. When Amanda spoke with MailOnline at Claridge's hotel in London, she revealed that Hollie had 'no idea' that she had bagged her first modelling gig, as the presenter had 'literally only just heard' about it minutes before we sat down. The TV personality has been living it up on a luxurious boat during a family holiday in Greece She said: 'Lexi's good, she's sort of dipped her toe in and she's done a couple of photoshoots. She is loving university as well but what she doesn't like doing is taking time off, so I think she'll work it out but it's something she's enjoying. 'She's doing London Fashion Week again in September and we've actually just heard that Hollie is going to be doing it as well.' Amanda continued: 'It's definitely something I think Hollie is going to enjoy she's going to die when I tell her she's doing London Fashion Week this year. 'I literally just heard she got it and she's gone for the week with my mum in Cornwall so I'll have to ring her after.' She joked: 'With both girls doing it, I do feel like Kris Jenner now. We need our own reality show. Oh my god, yeah here we go, I could see that'. Despite the TV stars hopes of a family reality show, which could follow her daughter's nepo baby friends including Simon Cowell's son Eric and Alesha Dixon's daughter Azura, Amanda's daughter Lexi 'wouldn't want to be on camera'. She revealed: 'But one of my daughters would do [a TV show] but Lexi wouldn't want to be on camera, that's irony, whereas Hollie would, definitely.'
