EXCLUSIVE How to have a cut-price Caribbean holiday, by a travel expert who's visited 75 islands across 28 countries. Here's the ultimate guide to the empty beaches, the best hotels and luxury breaks with an astonishing 60% off
'Expect superb low-season prices and special offers,' says Katie Hill of tour operator Tropic Breeze. 'I love the islands when they are quieter out of high season.'
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Time Out
an hour ago
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These 10 beach destinations are trending harder than the heatwave
Turns out, the best way to escape a sweltering summer is to lean into it—preferably with your toes in the sand and a cold drink in hand. Airbnb just dropped its list of the top 10 trending beach destinations for late summer getaways, and it's clear that travelers are chasing water, waves, and breezy relief. According to a new survey from Panterra, nearly half of global respondents named beaches as their number one destination type this season—and search data backs it up. From the surfer shores of Brazil to the dune-lined roads of Rhode Island, these spots are heating up in all the right ways. Leading the charge is Saquarema, Brazil, where search interest spiked over 170% year-over-year thanks to its rep as the surf capital of the country. New Shoreham, Rhode Island (aka Block Island) also saw a 160% lift, with visitors biking to the lighthouse and seal-watching between dips at quiet beaches. Meanwhile, Conil de la Frontera, a Spanish charmer on the Atlantic coast, is winning over travelers with both family-friendly stretches and hidden coves—searches are up 140%. Palermo, the Sicilian hotspot mixing history and Caribbean-blue waters, jumped over 90%, while Hossegor, France's favorite wave town, is up 70% thanks to its barrels, beachfront cafés and breezy promenades. Surprise newcomer Northumberland, in the United Kingdom, made the list too, drawing summer travelers to its golden sands and castle-topped coastline, with searches up 50%—alongside Fukuoka, Japan, where beach-hopping is just a ferry ride away. Also trending: Big Bear Lake, California (for freshwater fun), Port Aransas, Texas (for sunset strolls and sandcastles) and Portland, Maine, where tidepools and lighthouses define coastal calm. Each destination includes Airbnb's 'Guest Favorite' listings—translation: You'll find stays that are just as chill as the setting. So whether you're into surfing, snorkeling, seal-spotting or sun-lounging, there's still time to beat the heat without breaking a sweat.
The Sun
2 hours ago
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‘Selfish' holiday habit divides travellers who can't decide which is correct plane etiquette – where do you stand?
A TRAVELLER has shared how they got in trouble for being 'selfish' while travelling. Taking to social media, the jet-setter was solo travelling on a flight when they decided to make themselves more comfortable. 2 2 Taking to Reddit, they revealed that they decided to recline their seat back, but the woman behind was not happy. 'This lady behind me just screeches and swears,' the poster shared. 'I turn around, because I had reclined my seat, her drink had spilled. "I felt so terrible, apologised and she just says don't recline your seat and proceeds to say it's fine.' The traveller said they then waited for the woman to finish her drink for almost an hour, but the damage was already done. The woman behind refused to let them recline their seat again. Fortunately, the flight attendant was on the traveller's side and attempted to diffuse the situation. The poster said they then contacted a flight attendant for assistance, who, fortunately, had their back. 'He tells me that I can just recline the seat without asking her, and I say that I got yelled at and she was just mean,' the poster said. 'He just looks at me confused, goes to the lady and says that I want to recline my seat, therefore he's going to do it for me. The deeply selfish holiday trend sweeping Europe's beaches this summer – and it's WORSE than sunbed hogging "She gets angry, she says the table hits her belly, she can't watch her movie, says she doesn't have enough space and just complains. 'The flight attendant just says 'This is how the aircraft is built, if you look around there are multiple people who have their seats reclined. If you want to complain, you are free to do so on the Qatar Airways site'.' But the fight didn't end there, with more shoving and complaining from the woman for the rest of the flight. The Reddit user shared their story hoping for sympathy, but it seems many deemed their actions selfish to others on the flight. "I've had food spilled all over me on Qatar flights multiple times because someone tried to recline their seat during meals,' said one person. Another wrote: 'In my humble and no doubt unpopular opinion, aircraft seating should not recline." 'I have never reclined my seat on an airplane, because I know it makes it uncomfortable for the person behind me. So I just don't do it,' penned a third. 'Everyone knows the airlines have made it so crowded that reclining your seat is just rude now. I don't recline my seat because I have respect for my fellow passengers,' added a fourth person. Plane etiquette IF you're planning on going away any time soon, you'll need to pay attention to the following unwritten plane etiquette rules... RECLINING SEAT: Podcast host and etiquette expert Nick Leighton explained that you shouldn't recline your seat if the passenger behind you is working on their laptop. He said: "Nobody likes their laptop snapped in half." Before you recline your seat, it's best to check to see what the passenger behind you is doing. If they are on a laptop, ask before you move your seat back. FEET: A flight attendant told The Sun: "Your boarding card tells you a number and a letter, this will be the reserved seat that you have paid for. "Your feet, which are attached to your body, should do their best to reside within this space and stay far away from anyone else. "If you do insist on stretching out, please make sure your feet are covered up." CHAT: TV travel expert Samantha Brown explained that conversations from strangers aren't welcome, suggesting that others shouldn't expect a chat. She added: "I'm not a talker. Plane time is me time."
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Bad Bunny's Puerto Rico residency makes shock impact on economy
Bad Bunny 's residency kicked off earlier this month and he is not just showering his native country with his famous reggae music, he's also making an astonishing impact on Puerto Rico. The 31-year-old singer, who currently stars in Happy Gilmore 2 alongside Adam Sandler, is performing a historic residency, titled 'No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí,' at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. Celebrities like LeBron James and Ricky Martin - as well as other fans - have been flocking to the Caribbean island to get sight of the hunky rapper (turned Calvin Klein model). The 30-date performance is 'projected to generate at least $196.5 million in economic impact,' according to Destinations International's Event Impact Calculator. 'The real impact is even greater, as this [estimate] doesn't account for independent rentals or other accommodation outside of these [hotel] packages,' Discover Puerto Rico's Vice President of Marketing, Glorianna Yamin, told the Daily Mail. Hotel packages, which include hotel stays and concert tickets, can be booked by fans through vibee, a curated destination experience company, which Bad Bunny - whose birth name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio - has partnered with. The residency has 34 confirmed hotel properties vibee has partnered with, containing 48,255 room nights total. While tens of thousands of visitors travel to Puerto Rico for concerts, Bad Bunny's concert is expected to draw over 600,000 visitors alone. Demand for accommodations 'has skyrocketed since the residency announcement,' Yamin said, while also noting that the surge in travel interest and bookings following the announcement 'has been remarkable.' As of July 7, short-term rentals for August have reached 175,000, which is 60 percent more than the same period last year, and for September, there are 54,000 booked room nights, which is 68 percent more than last year, according to AirDNA. Statistics prove just how great of an impact the Latina star made on his homeland. The Caribe Hilton in San Juan, renowned for being the birthplace of the Piña Colada and Hilton's first international hotel, is up 'approximately 30 percent in bookings' compared to last year over the same three-month period, the hotel's General Manager Mike Garcia revealed to the Daily Mail. 'We're nearly sold out for August, and over 60 percent booked for September.' The resort-style hotel, which has 652 guest rooms, a secluded beach and three-tier oceanfront swimming pools, has become a celebrity hotspot where stars like Scheana Shay recently stayed as well as notable figures and Hollywood legends like former president Barack Obama, Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Moreno. Bad Bunny, who boasts 49 million followers on Instagram, has made some other places around Puerto Rico a celebrity hotspot. He has made numerous appearances at the music museum, Casa Histórica de la Música en Cayey, where he has surprised locals with a pop-up performance. In addition, earlier this year, he opened a new coffee cocktail bar in Old San Juan, called Café Con Ron, which has become a must-visit for his fans. In April, he was seen on the streets of San Juan, surrounded by film crews when he was reportedly shooting a 'confidential visual project.' Although he has yet to announce the secret project, he has been updating the Tití Me Preguntó singer has been updating his fans with how he's been spending his summer, when he's not on stage performing. Earlier this month, Benito posted a series of scenic and personal photos to summarize his summer, including a sign that read 'Shop local for Bad Bunny's concert,' and a baseball cap with the saying, 'Stop dating people who don't get your music.' Many fans were quick to make fiery comments about the saying possibly being about his ex Kendall Jenner, whom he dated in 2023 and partially in 2024. New music is always on the horizon. Bad Bunny dropped a new single Alambre Púa on July 14 and previously released his sixth studio album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' on January 5, which he said was a tribute to Puerto Rico and its rich musical heritage. Bad Bunny art can be seen on the walls inside the music museum (pictured) At the time, he posted a heartwarming message on his Instagram, which translated to English, reads, 'Without a doubt this is the best project of my career, the most special, the most beautiful and with the purest feeling. 'I dedicate this to Puerto Rico! I dedicate this to all my family and friends! I dedicate this to Latina America... the best experience of my career arrives, this moment! 'This week has been a lot of happy tears and thankfulness.' The Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, native's influence and his historic residency, Yamin told the Daily Mail, 'has united our community, energized our tourism industry, and created a positive economic wave that benefits all of Puerto Rico.' Yamin described the energy in Puerto Rico as 'absolutely electrifying' and noted that his concert series has brought together locals and visitors in a shared experience 'unlike any other,' especially since music is at the heart of the Island's culture. Meanwhile, Caribe's GM Mike Garcia remarked that Bad Bunny has made a 'powerful' impact by transcending generations, specially with his latest album carrying 'a sense of nostalgia that takes the grandparents and the parents way back, while bringing the new generation in to connect to their past and their roots.' 'It's truly a beautiful thing,' he gushed. 'This celebration of authentic Boricua culture can be seen in how people are dressing up for the concert, many of them donning a Jibaro outfit complete with straw hats and indicative of the rural Puerto Rican culture that influences the album.' Yamin told the Daily Mail that Discover Puerto Rico has become a vital tool for visitors to experience more of what Puerto Rico has to offer, including world-class beaches, a growing culinary scene, rich history, and natural wonders that appeal to everyone. The singer's residency, which began on July 11, concludes on September 14.
