
Why Brits should swap Spanish holidays for five destinations in stunning European country – with cheap pints & flights
One European country has exploded in popularity as a travel destination over the last three years, thanks to its stunning coastline and affordable hotels - with Jet2 offering deals from £24pp per night.
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The Sun's Pavlena Todorova is a born-and-bred Bulgarian, originally from Plovdiv, who's been living in London for the last nine years, and she says that she's baffled at the prices some Brits will pay for trips to Western Europe.
While all her friends fly out to Spain for a holiday, she always goes home to Bulgaria in the summer to spend time with her family.
She said: "Sometimes I get flights for £15 on Ryanair or Wizz Air from Luton or Stansted to Plovdiv airport off season. It's so cheap.
"I have been visiting beaches and resort towns across Bulgaria since I was a kid, and they are some of the most stunning spots in Europe.
"Brits are great at finding interesting, affordable places to holiday, so I find it really surprising that more Brits haven't cottoned on to the great resorts and cheaper deals in Bulgaria."
Pavlena grew up close to one of the best-known beaches in Bulgaria, Sunny Beach.
However, the resort is now really busy in the summer months, and she says there are even better beach spots tourists can visit when they're holidaying in her home country.
Pavlena told The Sun: "All the tourists flock to Sunny Beach because it's the most famous, but there are a lot of other small towns across the coastline that are cheaper and have nicer beaches.
"In fact, many of the Bulgarian resorts are exactly like the Spanish equivalents.
"Varna is just like Barcelona with a lot of history, great restaurants and a beach.
"This area has some very nice all-inclusive resorts too. If it's a cheap beach holiday you're after, go to Sunny Beach, which is like Benidorm - but I think it's much nicer!
"It's great for families and has a busy bar and club scene in some areas."
Trade Sunny Beach in Bulgaria for a little-known spot praised by locals
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It's not just the hotels and flights that are more affordable - bars and restaurants are equally easy on the wallet, according to Pavlena.
She said: "It's so much cheaper to eat and drink in Bulgaria compared to other places in Europe.
"In Sozopol, which has a really similar vibe to Malaga, beers are just £3 and you can have a family meal for less than £30. Plus, hotels are much cheaper."
Families can get great deals on Bulgarian breaks with companies like Jet2, with package prices starting at £1,300 for two weeks - including during the school holidays.
That works out at £24-per-person per night.
It pays to work out what area's best for you, Pavlena says, explaining: "With kids, I would go to Sveti Vlas, as it's close to Sunny Beach but not quite as crowded.
"It's very relaxed and friendly here. The water is calm and there are a lot of activities and attractions for families."
There are quieter, more serene places too. For couples who want a spot to get away from it all, Pavlena recommends Veleka Beach in Sinemorets.
She adds: "This is a natural beach that my family like to visit.
"It's not commercial like the bigger resort areas and it's one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen."
So where do Brits start when planning a bargain break in Bulgaria?
We look at the best Spanish swaps to save money this summer...
If you like Benidorm, go to Sunny Beach
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Wander along the sunny strip, lined with beach bars, all blaring party tracks and offering 2-4-1 deals on cocktails, and you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in Benidorm.
Sunny Beach has a party atmosphere, which spills out onto the golden sand and makes a great base for a group holiday or lively family trip.
As well as the picturesque beach, there is also a huge Aquapark which is ideal for families and a full range of fun water sports, including Jet Ski, Banana Boats and water skiing.
If you like Marbella, go to Lozenets
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Marbella is undoubtedly the boujee side of Spain, with swanky tapas bars beside million-euro yachts and exclusive beach clubs.
Lozenets has a similar vibe. Slightly more expensive than other beach areas in Bulgaria, but this seasonal beach town is a little slicker than its sister resorts along the coast.
The seafront here has less sticky beach bars and more stylish restaurants, like Bistroto and Olive Tree.
Ideal for couples or a weekend away with the girls.
If you like Barcelona, go to Varna
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Burgas and Varna are on the Black Sea Coast and Varna, in particular, is an atmospheric city with beautiful, cobbled streets and lots of history weaved into its culture and architecture.
The Roman Thermae in Varna are some of the largest Roman remains in Bulgaria.
Streets date back to the 2nd Century AD and with medieval buildings and alleyways weaving around the whole city.
Much like Barcelona and Valencia, Varna also has a fantastic beach with soft golden sand and azure-blue water, making it a perfect city by the sea.
If you like Malaga, go to Sozopol
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Sozopol is one of Bulgaria's oldest towns.
The Instagram-tastic Old Town is on the peninsula, surrounded by water and it's a chilled out hideaway with cute coffee shops, independent stores and private homes.
It's a tale of two cities, as Sozopol's new town is a party mecca, popular with hen and stag dos, taking advantage of the lively bars and clubs and cheap-as-chips beer.
If you like Tarragona, go to Plovdiv
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Roman ruins, beautiful buildings, ancient history and a lively atmosphere, Plovdiv is giving cultural Tarragona - and even Italian cities like Rome and Florence - a run for its money.
This is a perfect mini break for couples, with winding cobblestone streets and romantic candlelit cafes.

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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman behind viral Jet2 voiceover's rise to fame – from Butlins job to soaps role
A Jet2 advert audio has gone viral on TikTok with many users adding it to funny travel or holiday clips but people are only just learning who does the voice of the now global meme If you've been on social media in the last few weeks you've probably heard a certain Jet2holidays meme audio. It quickly went viral, largely due to a TikTok trend, and people are only just realising the familiar voice behind it. The voiceover star is Zoë Lister, who played the role of Zoe Carpenter in Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010. After that she was a writer for Hollyoaks and some children's TV dramas for 10 years but today she is most recognisable for voicing a Jet2holidays advert that features the catchy line 'nothing beats a Jet2 holiday' with Jess Glynne's song Hold My Hand playing in the background. Zoë told Mirror she recorded this voiceover around 18 months ago but in the last few weeks it has 'just exploded around the world". A TikTok trend has dominated the platform and it involves short clips of travel blunders and funny holiday moments with the Jet2 campaign soundtrack. There are currently 1.4 million TikTok videos using the Jet2 jingle and more than 192,000 clips using the hashtag Jet2holidays. What's more mind-blowing is Jet2holidays is a UK operator that only flies to destinations across Europe but the voiceover has reached global online audiences. Zoë, who has worked on the Jet2holidays voiceovers for seven years, was completely taken by surprise when she noticed the audio had gone viral. She said she is 'permanently astonished' and has received messages from people across the world. The 43-year-old mum-of-two, who grew up in Redditch in the Midlands, added: 'TikTok is amazing because it reaches so many people and so many different kind of audiences are on it and responding to things and making really funny content with whatever they can find and you know I guess the voiceover because it's so relentlessly upbeat it lends itself well to parody videos.' Zoë has even been asked to perform the voiceover on stage at festivals in the UK and shared she thinks last year was 'Brat girl summer' and 'this year is like Jet2 girl summer". She explained she first started being sent videos in October of people using the Jet2holidays voiceover on funny travel videos and she saw a post on TikTok or Instagram of someone dressed as Jess Glynne for Halloween and someone else dressed as a flight attendant who did the voiceover. The funniest video Zoë has seen using the viral audio meme is one of a woman on a fast rollercoaster who gets hit in the chest by a flying seagull and then realises she needs to get the bird off her. Zoë explained: 'We (Brits) love to take the mickey out of things and finding everything funny basically but what has been surprising is the fact that the rest of the globe are in on it as well even though they don't know what a Jet2 holiday is.' The voiceover artist revealed that initially she was unsure how Jet2 felt about the viral nature of the meme and two weeks ago she was 'crying' to her husband as she was worried that Jet2 might rebrand. Luckily, she later found that Jet2 'have a great sense of humour' so she didn't need to worry as it has 'turned into the best ad campaign for years'. Zoë's career started as a singer and dancer for Butlins before she moved to London and became an actress, TV writer and began doing voiceovers. She first got involved with Jet2 when they sponsored Love Island and then she ended up doing the whole campaign. The mum-of-two has since done many different ad campaigns for Jet2 which has kept her busy and described it as 'quite a gift of a job.' Zoë also disclosed a new project she is working on inspired by the viral success of the Jet2 campaign: 'I am going to launch a podcast and I think it's going to be called Absurdly Camp Z Lister because I did ask Chat GPT what it was about the voiceover that people have so responded to and Chat GPT was like quite rude and said 'the absurdly camp delivery' and that phrase has really stuck with me and I'm like I'm just going to lean into this.'
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Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Jive Beach Resort Turkey: Dream destination is rising up the ranks with Brits who love great food, intriguing history and shopping
One of the many stunning views from Jiva Beach Resort in Dalman | Jet2 If holidays were rainbows, a trip to Turkey's Dalaman coast would not only explode with colour but leave your heart filled with kindness and warmth. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Calming waters, a million shades of dreamy blues, crazy fun-filled nights and so many delicious dishes it is almost impossible to choose - that's what welcomed us to the glorious Dalaman region. This was my first visit to Turkey and it was obvious from the very first day ... I will definitely be back. It has a friendliness that has disappeared from some European holiday resorts and a population who are fiercely proud of their country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We went a couple of weeks before the main tourist season started. The drawback is that not all the restaurants and bars are open. But the plus points outweigh the negatives for me and we even met a couple who have already booked to go back in October, after the season finishes. The beauty of this area is undeniable whatever month you choose to visit. Clear skies, rugged mountains, smooth beaches and gorgeous greens generously dotted in every direction. There are holidays here for history lovers, foodies, sun seekers and families just wanting downtime to chill together. One obvious warning - Turkey gets hot! The sort of temperatures that demand constant Factor 50 sunblock and, if you're anything like me, will see your cowering in the shade with your fair skin. Peak season also means queues and a level of crowd that I'm just not very keen on. We were still able to wear short sleeves and shorts on our visit, although we did find the beach a bit nippy on a couple of days and there were very few people willing to brave the sea. But we were able to wander up to monuments without anybody else about, chat for ages to restaurant owners and get a special service that is just impossible when all the tables are full. So while when you travel is all about what you prefer, there is no doubt that Turkey will once again attract more Brits this year and beyond. The pools are just a few metres from the beach and cocktails are served at both | Jet2 The food, the climate, the history, the culture - it makes for a wonderful holiday with a bill that is still considerably less than other tourism hotspots. Turkey is the fastest growing destination for Brits and it welcomed a record number of us last year. If you mention to others that you haven't been before, they will look at you as if you're very slow to discover a holiday gem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We flew with Jet2 from Birmingham Airport and started off with a treat via Holiday Extras. If you want a relaxing start, comfy hotel and less stress at the airport then I would always recommend trying them. To be completely honest, I travel a lot and I have never been able to find what they offer anywhere else without paying a lot more. We stayed at Jiva Beach Resort in Fethiye and it is absolutely perfect whether you are new to the region, or one of the many return guests. Staff are friendly and always helpful, everywhere looks beautiful and the food is top notch. It also has a few surprises which go beyond what you would expect. The rooms at Jiva Beach are light, airy and comfortable | Jet2 Our room was light and airy but well air conditioned. It was beautifully presented and comfortable, with a really good range of high quality and nicely scented toiletries. The restaurant is as beautiful as the rest of the hotel. It is a self-service buffet so the range is impressive but always fresh and often made just for you. You can stick with English traditions, take a tour of the world via sushi, pizza and curry or immerse yourself in the utterly divine tastes of Turkey. I would recommend the latter and, with plenty of Turkish families also opting for Jiva Beach for their holidays, it is easy to spot which are the best new flavours to try. Queues were a rarity during our stay but the indoor barbecue was always the most popular. Occasionally you had to wait a few minutes for the latest batch of succulent fish, meat or veg to be flame grilled but watching that is part of the experience. The salad bar was incredible, crammed with so many different types of olives and pickles, and the pudding area was unavoidable. A thing of true beauty without even having to take a bite. Presentation is key to food and not easy at a buffet. This is another level and makes it hard to resist taking photos to remind you just how impressive it is at every single serving. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Everything is beautifully presented in the restaurant at Jiva Beach Resort | Jet2 The list of cocktails is impressive. It varies slightly at each of the venue's bars but nothing is too much trouble if you have a special request. My favourite Jiva bar was, no surprise ... on the beach. It is a beautiful spot with comfortable loungers and very popular pods which are perfect for relaxing couples or larger families. There is always something taking place whether you fancy a late night dance under the moonlight or bowls on the beach. Just get involved and make new friends along the way. Everything is luxury at Jiva Beach including the beach | Jet2 We hired a car for a couple of days to explore and found ourselves driving heading to a different bit of coast through the most wonderfully tree-filled mountains. It was a great opportunity to see local crafts and farming away from the usual tourist traps, getting under the skin of a country that was new to us. The warm welcome continued wherever we went and, although lots of the eateries had only just opened for the summer season, there were always locals willing to offer advice about the best places to eat. As you might expect, they know their stuff and never let us down. One of my favourite experiences of the holiday was seeing the utterly incredible kings' tombs carved into the cliffs. You have to see them to believe just how huge yet intricate they are and they should be on all visitors' must-see list. Tips are a way of life in Turkey so be prepared and go with the local customs. Having said that, they want to encourage tourists and the number of hotels being built in the area makes it clear that they are prepared for numbers to keep on shooting up over coming years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Destination Fact Box: Dalaman Area, Turkey operates award-winning flights to Dalaman from 13 UK airports – Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International – meaning there is plenty of choice and flexibility for holidaymakers looking to reach Turkey. From Birmingham, operates a daily flight service to Dalaman from April to October. Package holidays with Jet2holidays to the Jiva Beach Resort are £1,199* per person for seven nights, all-inclusive plus, departing from Birmingham in July. Price includes a 22kg baggage allowance, 10kg hand luggage and return transfers. To book flights visit or for package holidays visit or call free on 0800 408 5594. The one thing everyone mentions about visits to Turkey is the shopping. This is a shopaholic's heaven. Yes, the markets are crammed full of the 'genuine fakes' which tempts most Brits to take an empty suitcase with them. But there is more to it than that. The markets are overflowing with wonderful craft items and incredible locally made produce. My top bargains were tea which opens into flower blooms when you pour on hot water and honey made from bees that have feasted on the local blossom. There's something for everyone and a week simply isn't enough to see, taste and do it all. We'll be back and several of our friends have said they want to join us for the next holiday. Jiva Beach is a resort where guests return year after the year. My only challenge is that I also want to explore other regions of Turkey. So much to do, so little time! My top tip now, admittedly stolen from other travellers who regularly go to Turkey, is avoid the main summer season. Nip in either before it starts or just as it ends. That way you get the best the country has to offer without the unbearable heat. However, I admit that only works for shade-lovers and I know plenty of folk who wish every day to be as hot as possible as they bake in the sun.


Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Ryanair asks passengers to act as flights cancelled in UK
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