Travel
Nine cheap yet beautiful holiday destinations to fly to from Manchester this spring
It’d be rude not to…
Fancy a cheap getaway this spring?
Last week, the government dropped all travel restrictions, including the requirement for Passenger Locator Forms (PLFs), mandatory face masks on airplanes and negative Covid tests for unvaccinated travellers.
The rule up haul has undoubtedly made travel plans for those wanting a quick getaway a whole lot easier and stress free, but one question still remains…
Where should you go?
Well, luckily for you lot, there’s a huge selection of fantastic locations to fly to directly from Manchester Airport, and some smashing return deals.
Here’s some of the best ones…
@viennatouristboard / Instagram
Vienna
Vienna is a must-visit for those wanting to soak up the culture, with the Austrian capital boasting everything from museums, art, contemporary buildings and historic imperial palaces.
Some famous names moulded the city into what it is today, including the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud.
As well as arts and culture, there’s also an abundance of great food and drink to sample, making Vienna the ideal city break.
£56 return, Monday March 28th – Saturday April 2nd. Book here.
@globeineyes / Instagram
Faro
Faro is the capital of southern Portugal’s Algarve region, and is the ideal location for those wanting to escape the city and soak up the sun.
Most tourists flock to the beautiful beaches that line the Algarve shore, including the famous Benagil Caves, fascinating rock formations on the beach with a hole in the ceiling that allows the sun to shine through.
Faro also boasts a historic old town, which features cobbled streets, drinking haunts and restaurants offering some of Portugal’s best cuisine.
£44 return. Wednesday March 30th – Thursday April 7th. Book here.
@lovindublin / Instagram
Dublin
The birthplace of Guinness, Dublin has long been a popular city break destination for its electric nightlife and vast food and drink offerings.
Visitors can embark upon a tour of the world-famous Guinness brewery and sample some of Ireland’s best whiskies.
And for those wanting a somewhat more cultured trip (or an activity to enjoy while nursing a sore head from the night before), Dublin boasts a zoo and even a castle, which dates all the way back to the 13th Century.
£19 return. Wednesday March 30th – Wednesday April 6th. Book here.
Jorge Franganillo / Flickr
Dalaman
Those wanting to soak up the sun can escape to Turkey’s beautiful Dalaman, famed for its mud baths, historical spots and sandy beaches.
Dalaman is ideal for those wanting to spend their days sunbathing on the beach, exploring historic buildings or sampling fresh Turkish seafood. Turkey enjoys a warm climate all year round, too, so you’ll be guaranteed a spot of nice weather.
Dalaman is also situated nearby to the famous Turtle Beach in Dalyan, which is a must-visit for all animal lovers.
£69 return. Tuesday April 19th – Thursday May 12th. Book here.
@joonlate / Instagram
Oslo
Oslo is known best for its sprawling green spaces, beautiful country side and, most prominently, the world-famous Northern Lights.
Visitors can also enjoy day trips to the city’s neighbouring island Oslo Fjord, the ideal spot for a picnic and wild swimming. The city’s famous hot saunas – often combined with a swim in the icy Oslo Fjord waters – are also a must-try.
The city also boasts innovative architecture, quirky bars and restaurants and lively neighbourhoods, making for a memorable getaway.
£20 return. Wednesday March 30th – Saturday April 30th. Book here.
@bennysvisuals / Instagram
Madeira
Hailed as one of the most beautiful destinations in the whole of Europe, Madeira is a must-visit for those wanting to experience the great outdoors.
The island, situated between the Portuguese and Moroccan coastlines, boasts gorgeous black sand beaches, rolling green landscapes and towering mountains, making it the perfect spot for hikers and explorers.
And better yet, the whole island can be driven across in just over an hour, meaning you can pack in all the sights in under a week.
£42.50 return. Wednesday March 30th – Monday April 4th. Book here.
@icelandtours_ / Instagram
Reykjavik
Situated on the coast of Iceland, Reykjavik makes for the perfect holiday for those wanting to experience a new culture and recharge the batteries.
The city has become famous for its Blue Lagoon Spa, where visitors can bask in the outdoor lagoons warmed perfectly by the surrounding volcanic activity.
The city centre itself is also bustling full of trendy cafes, cosy restaurants, local shops and quirky museums, making it an ideal city break too.
£87 return. Thursday April 28th – Thursday May 5th. Book here.
@walter_7.3 / Instagram
Milan
You can pop over to one of the fashion capitals of the world on a budget this year, with return flights to the Italian city coming in as low as £25.
There are so many things to see and do in the booming city of Milan, including Duomo, the instantly-recognisable gothic Cathedral. The building dates back to the late 14th century, and offers stunning views of the city from the top, which is accessible via many flights of windy stairs.
Though most people just go for the pizza, pasta and the shopping. Fair enough.
£25 return. Monday April 4th – Wednesday April 6th. Book here.
@visitcorfu_gr / Instagram
Corfu
The sunny Greek island of Corfu is the perfect location for anyone seeking a bit of sun, sea and relaxation, and it is remarkably cheap to get to this spring.
The island benefits from a combination of rich cultural heritage and a cracking nightlife, so tourists can enjoy a bit of historic sight seeing in the day, and can let their hair down on the night.
There’s also an abundance of restaurants serving all those wonderful Greek delights, as well as a selection of freshly caught seafood – the dream.
£35 return. Tuesday April 5th – Thursday April 7th. Book here.
Travel
Passport fees are rising tomorrow for second time in 14 months
Things are getting more expensive, again…
In bad news for holidaymakers, the cost of getting a new passport is set to rise once again.
The Home Office has confirmed that passport fees are set to rise by more than 7% from tomorrow, under new proposals.
This means the cost of online applications within the UK, for anyone aged 16 and over, will increase from £82.50 to £88.50.
Mikey / Flickr
Children under 16 will also see an increase in passport costs, with the price rising to £57.50 from £53.50.
Overseas and postal applications will also rise at a similar level, with postal increasing to £100 for adults and £69 for children, and an online overseas application rising to £101 for adults and £65.50 for children.
The new charges will officially be in place from tomorrow, Thursday April 11th.
Last year passport fees increased by around 9%, back in February 2023.
Ethan Wilkinson / Unsplash
The Home Office said in a statement: “The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
“The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.
“The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.
“The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services.”
Travel
Passport fees to rise within weeks as Home Office confirms new prices
Things are getting more expensive, again…
In bad news for holidaymakers, the cost of getting a new passport is set to rise once again.
The Home Office has confirmed that passport fees are set to rise by more than 7% next month, under new proposals.
This means the cost of online applications within the UK, for anyone aged 16 and over, will increase from £82.50 to £88.50.
Mikey / Flickr
Children under 16 will also see an increase in passport costs, with the price rising to £57.50 from £53.50.
Overseas and postal applications will also rise at a similar level, with postal increasing to £100 for adults and £69 for children, and an online overseas application rising to £101 for adults and £65.50 for children.
While the changes are still subject to parliamentary approval, if passed they will be in place from April 11th.
Last year passport fees increased by around 9%, back in February 2023.
Ethan Wilkinson / Unsplash
The Home Office said in a statement: “The new fees will help ensure that income from these applications better meets the cost of delivering passport and associated operations, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
“The Government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.
“The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.
“The increase will also help enable the Government to continue improving its services.”
Travel
Wizz Air launch mystery holiday deal where you find out destination when you land
Enter the competition to win a ticket
If you’re dreaming of catching a jet plane to just about anywhere, well Wizz Air have launched a holiday deal where the mystery location isn’t revealed until you land.
The Hungarian airline will take a plane full of holiday hopefuls from London Gatwick for a four-day mystery getaway as part of its #LetsGetLostwithWIZZ campaign.
Those who win a ticket to the unknown location, will turn up to London Gatwick on March 7th to board a Wizz Air flight for ‘four days of fun, including cultural, culinary and adventure activities’ – it could turn out to be the trip of a lifetime!
To be in with a chance of winning a seat on the flight, UK residents can visit the Wizz Air’s Instagram page and follow the prompts on the Let’s Get Lost London pinned post.
“Entries close on February 22nd at 00.01am”, the low-cost airline says.
The lucky chosen ones will be able to bring a plus one on the trip and winners will be contacted via Instagram.
In a post shared to its official Instagram page, the airline put: “It’s time to get onboard our latest venture to the unknown with Let’s Get Lost London, departing from London Gatwick to…
“Do this by the 22nd February and you could be in with a chance of departing with us on an exciting flight to the unknown.
“The trip will take place between 7th – 10th March. Open to UK residents only, please make sure you’re following WIZZ on Instagram and that your profile is public.”
If you’re wondering whether you’ll need your bathing suit, suncream, hiking boots, rain coat or winter woollies, don’t worry, the 35 lucky winners will be told the climate to pack for a few days before the trip.
No other clues will be given away until touch down in the unknown destination.
UK Wizz Air Managing Director, Marion Geoffroy said: “We love connecting our passengers to new countries, allowing them to meet new people and try new experiences.
“Going on a flight to an unknown destination is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we are pleased to be able to offer this to lucky winners here in the UK.
“Let’s Get Lost is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our British passengers and we hope to continue serving them as they travel the world and make new memories.”
Wizz Air flies to more than 70 destinations from the UK. Last year, the most popular destinations among Brits included Morocco, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Spain.
It is unclear whether the airline will jet the 35 lucky ticket holders and plus ones off to one of its more popular destination choices, or whether it will choose to take them somewhere a little more alternative and secluded.
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