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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The little-known way to travel across Spain by train for FREE this summer
FOR anyone travelling across Spain, there is a clever hack to get train journeys for free. Advertisement 4 You can get a free ticket if you make a long-distance train journey in Spain Credit: Alamy 4 Use the commuter routes to head out of the cities for free Credit: Alamy To get journeys for free, visitors can buy a combined Cercanías ticket, which is called the Combinado Cercanías in Spanish. The ticket essentially is included free of charge with tickets for some long-distance run by Renfe and include AVE trains . Travellers who have already bought a long-distance ticket won't need to buy another one to take a connecting local train as it is free with the combined Cercanías ticket. The only condition is that you travel within four hours of when the booked train departs or leaves. Advertisement Read More on Spain So if you're heading into the likes of Madrid or But from there, if you want to head out of the city to see mountains, lakes and other more Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at "For those keen to explore Spain, it means you can go beyond the main tourist hubs without the need to spend more.' Advertisement Most read in News Travel You don't have to faff around with printed tickets either as you can get a PDF on your phone - which you can do on the Trainline app. If you want to buy a physical ticket, you can input the 5-digit code on the ticket into a ticket machine on the Cercanías train station platform. Huge new train station to open in world's most popular city 4 Head out of Seville to see beautiful hill towns Credit: Alamy This will print out the Combinado Cercanías ticket so you don't have to worry about your phone running out of charge. Advertisement Here are some of the best ways to see You can reach One Sun Travel writer visited Madrid last year where they To then explore out of the city, hop on the Madrid Cercanías train network where you can go out into the Guadarrama Mountains. Advertisement Up there, there's a medieval monastery and traditional restaurants. From pick up a commuter Cercanias train from Santa Justa station. That will take you out to the hill towns of the Sierra Norte, Aljarafe, Dos Hermanos and Utrera . Have a look before you travel at train routes and where a free ticket out of the city can get you for your next Advertisement Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray Before you go, check all the And from someone who visits Spain at least 8 times a year – 4 You can get a free train ticket out of the cities in Spain Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Our top picks on where The Sun travel editors are going this summer from cheap Turkish resorts to world's biggest cruise
RACKING up hundreds of countries between us all, it's no surprise that the Sun Travel team are out exploring the world this summer. So we've spoken to each of our editors to find out where they are going this summer , from family villas in Sicily to being first on the world's biggest cruise ship. 11 From island villages to new cruise ships - the travel team is exploring the globe this summer Sicily villas One of the joys of not having school-age children is being able to travel in late summer , taking advantage of the cheaper prices and fewer crowds. But of course, the Bank of Mum and Dad is never closed, and our break will still see the whole family heading away together, but on a very different holiday with our grown-up kids. Our choice was a villa in where the whole family can come together to splash about in the private pool or gather for lazy meals on the terrace. The recently refurbished Ad Astra villa sits right on the seafront at Finale di Pollina on Sicily's north eastern coast with direct access to the pebbly beach and clear cobalt waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms there hopefully won't be any sibling squabbles and outside in the lovely gardens, there are two terraces for dining and relaxing. 11 I can't wait to take our family holiday to Sicily 11 The resorts look brand new thanks to a recent refurbishment The beachfront town is more tranquil than neighbouring bustling The charming main square, La Torre, has gorgeous sea views perfect for a morning coffee or evening aperitivo. With easyJet flights flying into Catania and flights out of Palermo, we'll hire a car and get to explore the northern Sicilian coastline, still drenched in sunshine and temperatures of 27degrees in early September. One must-visit for me will be the ancient hilltop medieval village of Pollina - rising dramatically 730metres above the coastline where our villa sits. With narrow, winding streets to explore and an open-air amphitheatre carved into the rock there should be breathtaking views of the sea and Four nights at Ad Astra villa start from £462pp in September at Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Turkish TUI resort While I love taking my child on busy, exploration holidays (he's already ticked off some great bucket listers of Lapland and So we'll be heading to the Holiday Village AQI in Turkey this summer for a week of relaxation. 11 The Sun's Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire is going on a family holiday to Turkey 11 Trying to visit all seven pools will certainly be a challenge at the Holiday Village AQI Credit: Tripadvisor And the TUI resort has more than enough to keep up busy without leaving the site. We both love swimming, and there are seven pools to choose from so we'll be able to go to a new one every day. Although whether I'll be able to drag him away from the splash park, who knows. Maybe when I tell him there are more than 200 activities on offer at the hotel. And I'll be heading straight to the spa for a Seven nights at Holiday Village Aqui start from £891 in August with flights, or £619 out of season. Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital) Fuerteventura September might not seem like summer here, but in The weather, on what is me and my hubby's favourite Canary isle, is glorious at that time of year. Not baking hot but still very warm and with the famous and very welcome 'Fuerty wind' making it much more bearable. We've been here three times before, so I think you get the idea we love it here. We've previously stayed in Caleta de Fuste, a popular resort in the middle of the island's east coast, with a good variety of hotels, villas, restaurants, pubs and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained and Lajares, a much quieter place and great place to rent a villa and just chill by your own pool. 11 The Scottish Sun's Travel Editor Heather Lowrie is heading to the Spanish island of Fuerteventura 11 Even in September, it still feels like the best of summer in Fuerteventura Credit: Getty This time we're trying something different and heading to Corralejo on the northern tip of the island, where we hope to discover yet another side to I'm looking forward to walking along the former fishing village's well-known Flag Beach and eating glorious seafood at one of the many restaurants, especially in the old town with its cobbled streets and harbour. We're also planning a day trip to the nearby Lobos Island nature reserve and perhaps even plucking up the courage to go snorkeling, as well as pottering around the El Campanario Market to pick up a souvenir or two. But most of all I am just looking forward to a week of sunshine, great food and a bit of well-deserved R&R. Heather Lowrie, Scottish Sun Travel Editor World's biggest cruise ship I fell a little in love with cruising a few years back, on a heavily rum-fuelled sailing between sleepy Even now, I'm writing this from a sun-soaked lounger on a glossy ship at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, but it's the vessel I'm boarding later this year that I'm most excited about. Royal Caribbean 's newest ship and the second in its icon class, Star of the Seas, will be I'll be on board, of course. How could I resist another Caribbean adventure at sea? 11 The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski is a new cruise fan 11 Royal Caribbean's new ship Star of the Seas launches next month Credit: Royal Caribbean The largest cruise ship in the entire world (a title she shares with sister ship, Icon of the Seas) and reaching a whopping 1,196ft in length, this will be on a mind-boggling scale . What I'm looking forward to most is the Lincoln Park Supper Club, an immersive dining experience exclusive to Star that, I hear, will transport diners back to the 1930s in the American city of Chicago . I'll also get to explore Watch this space. I'll be back here in a few months time and I'm sure I'll have endless secrets to spill. Royal Caribbean launches from Florida in August 2025, with seven-night sailings from £1,059 Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor Zurich I've always been wanting to explore more of Switzerland , so there's no better time than with the Women's Euros taking place. I'm looking forward to exploring Europe 's happiest cities. Not only that but it ticks all of the boxes - did you know the city has 18 lidos to choose from? While the locals choose to float down the river to work, with their belongings safely tucked into a waterproof bag, I'll be hunting out some of the women-only lidos to spend the days in. 11 The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey loves exploring a city on holiday 11 Zurich is definitely a hot spot this summer, with Women's Euros there this year Credit: Alamy As a chocolate lover, I'll also be heading straight to the Lindt World of Chocolate Museum to stock up (brining hauls of I'm determined to prove that Zurich isn't an expensive destination, especially seeing as you can fly there in just over an hour for less than £20. Loads of airlines are launching flights too - Edelweiss now has direct routes to Zurich from Bristol while easyJet has new Edinburgh-Zurich flights. But of course I'll be cheering the women on, hoping we get to the finals. Come on England ! The UEFA Women's Euros England vs Sweden match takes place in Zurich on July 17. In the mean time, here are some of our other Sun Travel Team tips including: The top affordable European destinations Where are the rest of the travel team going? Travel Reporters Alice Penwill and Cyann Fielding are also heading abroad this summer. Thailand exploring This summer I'm going the furthest I've ever been, to Thailand's second largest island of Koh Samui. It's of course known for being the star of White Lotus' third series and I'm looking forward to exploring all the island has to offer from beautiful beaches to late night parties. On holiday, there's nothing better than swimming in a sea that's not freezing cold, so I plan to go in as much as possible. Snorkelling is on the to do list too as I hear the island is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs - and I will be investing in an underwater camera to watch my adventure on replay. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter European islands When it comes to soft spots, Italy is a major one for me - the country boasts so many destinations that you can visit several times and never get bored. That is why I am heading to yet another Italian destination this summer - Sardinia which has 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and numerous hiking trails. For fellow Italian lovers like me, this is a great destination with flight times coming in at around two-and-a-half-hours and return flights available for as little as £48. Particular things I am excited for are seeing the nuraghi scattered over the rugged landscape. These little houses date to the bronze age and are shaped like bee hives. I am such a sucker for hidden gems as well, so I am keen to explore the island's caves and coves to see if I can find off-the-beaten-track spots, which tourists usually don't head to. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Top six UK theme parks you can easily reach by train this summer – and how to find the cheapest family fares
A DAY trip to a theme park is part of what makes up the summer holidays for most families. So 8 There are plenty of theme parks around the UK that are easily reached by trains Credit: Alamy 8 Chessington World of Adventures is less than 15 minutes away from the station Credit: Alamy First up is The park has it all, over 40 rides, a zoo and SEA LIFE centre. Some of the best rides include the Barrel Bail Out, as long as you're not standing nearby, because the aim of the game is to soak bystanders. It's also home to Mandrill Mayhem the largest rollercoaster and themed around Read More on Attractions Travel Editor (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited the theme park to try out the You can get to the theme park by getting the train to Chessington South then walking 14 minutes to the main entrance. The second theme park is Earlier this year, it was named the best family-owned theme park in the country by Most read in Family has been kept in the family since it opened. Blackpool Pleasure Beach has 38 rides, 10 rollercoasters and five water rides. I was one of the first to try Blackpool Pleasure Beache's 'new' ride 8 Trainline also have top tips on how to save money on tickets Credit: Alamy 8 Adventure Island is accessible from Southend train station Credit: Alamy Some of the most popular include The Big One, Icon, Valhalla, and the Grand National. The park also has Nickelodeon Land with rides for younger visitors. To get to park, take the train to the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Station, then a five minute walk. The colourful theme park is right on Southend's seafront and has over 40 rides and attractions. You can go start slow with the spinning teacups or get hit the big rides like the Gerstlauer Eurofighter that has a vertical drop and loop. The park also has arcades, a sea-view café strip, and a small aquarium. To get there, take a train to Southend Central, then it's a 10-minute walk to the park gates. 8 Head to this theme park in Kent to play with diggers all day Credit: Alamy Here, kids can operate real JCBs, ride on dump trucks, and dig holes with their digger of choice. There are hands-on driving experiences too like Pre-booked tickets to Diggerland cost £25.95pp plus a £4 booking fee - or £38pp on the day. Take the train to 8 Dreamland is full of vintage rides - and a new log flume Credit: Alamy For fans of retro, head to The beachside amusement park is full of restored vintage rides, a roller disco, summer concerts and art shows. It's where you'll find the In July 2025, Dreamland opened its The new ride has two "high-thrill" drops with both a 50ft plunge and 30ft plunge along the way. It also has nearby water guns that guests can use to spray riders as they go past, with coin-operated pistols. Deputy Travel Editor To get there by train, take one to 8 Barry Island Pleasure Park is less than five minutes from the train station Credit: Alamy Of course, we cannot forget about The classic British fairground is right by the beach, and recognisable to fans of the BBC series It has the classic dodgems and ghost trains as well as helter-skelters and candy floss stands. It's the best of both worlds really as once you're dizzy from the rides, head down to the golden sands of To get there, take a train to Barry Island, then follow signs to the seafront which is less than five minutes on foot. Trainline's Top Tips On How To Save This Summer For any families taking the train this summer, follow these handy tips to save on tickets... Save with Railcards : Get discounts on off-peak fares using digital Railcards. Families can make big savings by using a Family & Friends Railcard, which gives 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' tickets. Other options like the 16–25 Railcard or Two Together Railcard are perfect for friends or couples planning a fun park day out. GroupSave perks : If you are travelling in a group of 3–9 you can save up to 1/3 on tickets when you book together. One person just needs to book for the whole group to unlock GroupSave - for eligible journeys a pop-up message in the Trainline app will prompt you to 'Apply discount' . Save with Advance Fares : Many long-distance routes to theme parks – especially popular ones like Southend, Blackpool or Margate – offer Advance train tickets that can be significantly cheaper than buying on the day. Book early for the best prices, especially during summer weekends or school holidays when demand can be higher. 8 You can easily get to these theme parks on the train this summer Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Top six UK theme parks you can easily reach by train this summer – and how to find the cheapest family fares
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DAY trip to a theme park is part of what makes up the summer holidays for most families. So Trainline has revealed where you can find the top six amusement parks whether you're looking for big rollercoasters or small thrills - and they're all easily accessible on train. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 There are plenty of theme parks around the UK that are easily reached by trains Credit: Alamy 8 Chessington World of Adventures is less than 15 minutes away from the station Credit: Alamy First up is Chessington World of Adventures which is just outside of London in Chessington. The park has it all, over 40 rides, a zoo and SEA LIFE centre. Some of the best rides include the Barrel Bail Out, as long as you're not standing nearby, because the aim of the game is to soak bystanders. It's also home to Mandrill Mayhem the largest rollercoaster and themed around Jumanji. Travel Editor (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited the theme park to try out the Jumanji rollercoaster when it first opened - and here's her verdict. You can get to the theme park by getting the train to Chessington South then walking 14 minutes to the main entrance. The second theme park is Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire. Earlier this year, it was named the best family-owned theme park in the country by Blooloop. Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort first opened in 1896, and has been kept in the family since it opened. Blackpool Pleasure Beach has 38 rides, 10 rollercoasters and five water rides. I was one of the first to try Blackpool Pleasure Beache's 'new' ride 8 Trainline also have top tips on how to save money on tickets Credit: Alamy 8 Adventure Island is accessible from Southend train station Credit: Alamy Some of the most popular include The Big One, Icon, Valhalla, and the Grand National. The park also has Nickelodeon Land with rides for younger visitors. To get to park, take the train to the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Station, then a five minute walk. Adventure Island is a firm favourite with families because of its free entry policy – you only pay for the rides you go on. The colourful theme park is right on Southend's seafront and has over 40 rides and attractions. You can go start slow with the spinning teacups or get hit the big rides like the Gerstlauer Eurofighter that has a vertical drop and loop. The park also has arcades, a sea-view café strip, and a small aquarium. To get there, take a train to Southend Central, then it's a 10-minute walk to the park gates. 8 Head to this theme park in Kent to play with diggers all day Credit: Alamy Diggerland in Kent isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for digger fans, it's a dreamworld. Here, kids can operate real JCBs, ride on dump trucks, and dig holes with their digger of choice. There are hands-on driving experiences too like go-karting, and there's a soft play on-site. Pre-booked tickets to Diggerland cost £25.95pp plus a £4 booking fee - or £38pp on the day. Take the train to Strood, then take a 15-minute walk to the Diggerland entrance. 8 Dreamland is full of vintage rides - and a new log flume Credit: Alamy For fans of retro, head to Dreamland in Margate - otherwise known as the UK's trendiest seaside town. The beachside amusement park is full of restored vintage rides, a roller disco, summer concerts and art shows. It's where you'll find the UK's oldest wooden rollercoaster, the Scenic Railway which first opened in 1920. In July 2025, Dreamland opened its first ride in 25 years - a log flume water ride called Wild River. The new ride has two "high-thrill" drops with both a 50ft plunge and 30ft plunge along the way. It also has nearby water guns that guests can use to spray riders as they go past, with coin-operated pistols. Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey took a trip to Dreamland to try out some of its best attractions. To get there by train, take one to Margate, then it's just a four-minute walk to the Dreamland entrance - it's across the road from the beach. 8 Barry Island Pleasure Park is less than five minutes from the train station Credit: Alamy Of course, we cannot forget about Barry Island Pleasure Park. The classic British fairground is right by the beach, and recognisable to fans of the BBC series Gavin and Stacey. It has the classic dodgems and ghost trains as well as helter-skelters and candy floss stands. It's the best of both worlds really as once you're dizzy from the rides, head down to the golden sands of Barry Beach for an ice cream. To get there, take a train to Barry Island, then follow signs to the seafront which is less than five minutes on foot. Trainline's Top Tips On How To Save This Summer For any families taking the train this summer, follow these handy tips to save on tickets... Save with Railcards : Get discounts on off-peak fares using digital Railcards. Families can make big savings by using a Family & Friends Railcard, which gives 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' tickets. Other options like the 16–25 Railcard or Two Together Railcard are perfect for friends or couples planning a fun park day out. : Get discounts on off-peak fares using digital Railcards. Families can make big savings by using a Family & Friends Railcard, which gives 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' tickets. Other options like the 16–25 Railcard or Two Together Railcard are perfect for friends or couples planning a fun park day out. GroupSave perks : If you are travelling in a group of 3–9 you can save up to 1/3 on tickets when you book together. One person just needs to book for the whole group to unlock GroupSave - for eligible journeys a pop-up message in the Trainline app will prompt you to 'Apply discount' . : If you are travelling in a group of 3–9 you can save up to 1/3 on tickets when you book together. One person just needs to book for the whole group to unlock GroupSave - for eligible journeys a pop-up message in the Trainline app will prompt you to 'Apply discount' . Save with Advance Fares: Many long-distance routes to theme parks – especially popular ones like Southend, Blackpool or Margate – offer Advance train tickets that can be significantly cheaper than buying on the day. Book early for the best prices, especially during summer weekends or school holidays when demand can be higher.
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I flew on one of the world's best airlines – what to expect in premium economy as a 6ft2 passenger
The airline is soon launching the world's longest flight TAKING OFF I flew on one of the world's best airlines – what to expect in premium economy as a 6ft2 passenger Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF you're going to spend 22 and a half hours on a plane, give or take, there are a few things you need. Comfort, entertainment and friendly staff rank high among the list of must-haves. (Also WiFi - but more of that later.) Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 I tried out Qantas' premium economy seats on one of their longest flights For these, a seat in Qantas' premium economy cabin while taking the slog from London Heathrow to Sydney (with a 2-hour layover in Singapore) ticks the boxes. As a 6ft 2in man mountain, I've had my share of uncomfortable experiences on long-haul flights. So a trip to Australia - the longest I'd ever attempted - did give me a slight sense of dread. An upgrade to premium economy on the upper deck of one the airline's Airbus A380s made the journey bearable, though. The seats were roomy enough to twist one way or another in sleep and also had the all-important extendable head-rest that adjusts from the sides for crucial extra support while dozing. With a decent pillow from the cabin crew (plus blanket, eye mask and all the usual gubbins) it was about the easiest I've found it to get some kip on a plane. The food was decent, and staff were more than happy to dig out an extra glass of wine when I was up to stretch my legs. The usual array of films and TV shows were available to pass the time on the entertainment system, but for those of us who like to alternate movies with in-flight games the selection wasn't the best. Which kind of brings me to the biggest criticism of the service - no WiFi. While I wouldn't necessarily use it, I know for others it would be an absolute necessity. Airline launches world-first onboard suites that are five windows long Qantas say it's in the process of being rolled out across the wider fleet and will be available on A380s in early 2026 (and free to all passengers). With non-stop flights between Heathrow and Sydney planned for early 2027, it's a good job it will be sorted. With no stopover in Singapore to jump on WhatsApp and Instagram, how would you update your family on what a wonderful journey you're having? Return from Heathrow to Sydney from £1475 economy, from £3097 premium economy. We've tried out some other amazing premium economy cabins as well. The Sun's Head of Travel Caroline McGuire raves about Norse Atlantic Airways' - here's why. Her'e's the airline that launched the first ever premium economy seat. And one airline has revealed plans to ditch premium economy.
