MANCHESTER United ace Harry Maguire stunned holidaymakers last month, when he showed up for a family break at a Haven holiday park in North Wales.

Despite being on £190,000 a week, he shunned the typical footie holidays of Dubai and Ibiza for Presthaven Beach Resort near Prestatyn – where 4-night holidays cost from £49.

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Harry, 31, and his family, including wife Fern, stayed in a plush Diamond Lodge, costing from £495 for four nights, and enjoyed an action-packed few days doing things like swimming, roller skating and a high ropes course.

Like most other Brits, I was surprised to hear that a well-paid footie star stayed at a Haven holiday park, and couldn’t resist going down to copy his holiday – so last weekend my six-year-old daughter Mabel and I holidayed exactly like Harry Maguire.

Not only did we stay in a Diamond Lodge like the Man United star and his family, but we signed up for the same activities he did.

The caravan was definitely celeb-worthy. There was a huge marble kitchen with all the mod cons, as well as a matching bathroom and en-suite.

With hipster lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 40-inch TV, it was nothing like the caravans of my childhood. I was shocked that you could even fit a giant corner sofa and eight-seater dining table inside.

And I felt a bit like a WAG doing my make-up over the matching his ‘n’ hers sinks in the chic en-suite the next morning.

Our first stop on Saturday was the Make-A-Bear class where a friendly instructor taught the kids how to create their own cuddly animal from Haven’s Seaside Squad. 

Mabel excitedly picked Annie the Elephant, then stuffed her tummy with foam, popped a pink heart inside and permanently fastened her zip.

It was a really cute session with games, singing and dancing.

Afterwards, we wandered up to the Creative Studio to paint a ceramic cup and a unicorn. They’re fired in the hot kiln each weekend and cooled just in time to be picked up on Monday morning.

You could spend days trying all of the activities in the studio from slime-making to sand art.

There are even Christmas-themed sessions where you can make a cuddly reindeer or decorate a festive plate.

My little one’s favourite craft was foam clay modeling. She loved covering a ceramic animal with brightly-coloured, sticky beads.

We refuelled with a quick chow mein lunch at Chopstix and to Mabel’s delight, we grabbed ice cream and candy floss from the neighbouring Seaside Shack for pudding.

Guests can use facilities like the soft play, fun pool, mini-golf and parks for free, while activities with specialist equipment like bikes and roller skates come with a small fee.

We hired a two-person bike and had great fun exploring the site and cycling down to the wide, sandy beach.

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While she still had plenty of energy afterwards, I’m not a match-fit footie player, so she ran around in the soft play, while I sat and watched with a cuppa from Costa.

There’s a full schedule of evening entertainment with family-friendly pantomimes, discos and games – and harry Maguire joined his family for an evening of bingo.

But my little one was finally shattered from her action-packed day of activities, so we switched the electric fire in our lodge on and cosied up on the sofa in our PJs. 

We ordered meals including a Papa John’s pizza using the Haven app, which delivers anywhere on-site for no extra charge.

There were plenty of eateries to choose from including Burger King, a traditional fish and chip shop and a family-style pub.

On Sunday, we joined an aqua jetting class where you grab onto a handheld jet and whizz across the water.

It looks really tricky, but Mabel, who was the smallest child in the group, was happily zooming around the pool with everyone in minutes.

In each session across the weekend, I noticed that the staff took care to ensure quieter kids felt included.

Haven Holiday Costs

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IF you were thinking about going to Haven this summer, here’s a helpful breakdown of the costs.

Accommodation

• Standard Caravan: £150-£300 per week (off-peak) / £400-£700 per week (peak season)
• Luxury Caravan/Lodge: £400-£600 per week (off-peak) / £800-£1,200 per week (peak season)

Food and Drink

• Self-Catering:
  • Groceries: £50-£100 per week (depending on family size and preferences)
• Eating Out:
  • On-site Restaurants: £10-£20 per meal per person
  • Local Restaurants/Pubs: £15-£25 per meal per person

Activities and Entertainment

• On-site Activities:
  • Swimming Pool: Free (included in holiday cost)
  • Kids’ Clubs: Free (included in holiday cost)
  • Evening Entertainment: Free (included in holiday cost)
  • Paid Activities (e.g., mini-golf, bike hire): £5-£20 per activity

Transportation

• Driving:
  • Fuel: £30-£60 (depending on distance)
• Public Transport:
  • Train/Bus: £20-£100 per person (depending on distance and time of booking)

Extras

• Travel Insurance: £10-£30 per week
• Souvenirs/Gifts: £20-£50

Estimated cost for a family of four for one week:

• Off-Peak: £400-£800 (accommodation) + £200-£300 (food) + £50-£100 (activities) + £50-£100 (transportation) + £50-£80 (extras) = £750-£1,380
• Peak Season: £800-£1,200 (accommodation) + £200-£300 (food) + £50-£100 (activities) + £50-£100 (transportation) + £50-£80 (extras) = £1,150-£1,780

Please note that these are approximate costs and can vary based on specific locations, personal preferences, and time of booking. Always check the latest prices and offers directly with Haven or through a travel agent.

Haven has clearly put huge consideration into designing activities that kids love and that’s why, for us, this trip was better than any fancy cruise or all-inclusive holiday abroad.

And thanks to our stylish caravan, we didn’t even need to miss out on that luxury vibe.

HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned of a looming tourist tax that will see the existing levy raised by 65 percent with the hope of deterring visitors.

The New Zealand government announced in a statement on Tuesday that it has plans to hike up international visitor and conservation fees to force visitors to “contribute to public services”.

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Frequent flyers will need to remember to set aside their savings to ensure they’re not left short for the nation’s entry fee.

Currently, those landing into one of the five international airports across the Māori and English speaking islands contribute NZ$35 towards the “high-quality experiences while visiting”.

However, the government’s announcement confirms that prices will see a 65 percent elevation.

From October 1, tourists will face a NZ$100 tourism fee.

Those boarding from Australia and most Pacific nations will not have to pay the levy which is equivalent to just under £50.

Despite hiking up the cost of the fee, the Tourism Industry Association has confidence that the number of those heading to traverse, bungee or enjoy the incredible scenery on offer will remain consistent.

However, the association’s chief executive, Rebecca Ingram, said: “New Zealand’s tourism recovery [from the Covid-19 pandemic] is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness.”

The government has backed the decision by suggesting the fee was competitive and would not put tourists off the destination.

Tourism minister, Matt Doocey, explained that the levy was necessary to ensure “international visitors contribute to high-value conservation areas and projects, such as supporting biodiversity in national parks.”

Last year, more than 3.2 million tourists headed to the nation known for offering thrill-seekers ample dare-devil experiences alongside wineries, Hobbiton set tours, active volcanoes and even the Fergburger – if you know, you know.

However, data from Stats NZ last week revealed that visitor numbers are only around 80% of the level before the border closed for the pandemic.

NZ Airports chief executive, Billie Moore, said: “It is a triple-whammy for our sector, which is trying to work hard for New Zealand’s economic recovery.”

AN AWARD-WINNING attraction in Devon is home to the country’s highest man-made waterfall, Lady Exmouth Falls.

Located in Dartmoor National Park, Canonteign Falls has been named a hidden gem by local travel expert, Alex Gwillim, from Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays.

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He said: “Canonteign Falls is a beautiful natural attraction located in the heart of Devon, home to the South West’s highest waterfall.

“If you want to go for a peaceful walk, it’s the perfect location to venture past the waterfalls and lakes, or through the fern gardens and woodlands.”

Despite its name, Canonteign Falls is a set of two waterfalls, Natural Falls and Lady Exmouth Falls.

Lady Exmouth Falls was commissioned by Lady Susan, who was the wife of the third Lord Exmouth.

The aristocrats wanted to build the waterfall to help keep the miners in work following the end of the mining boom in the 1880s.

The former miners worked to divert the leat course, which had previously provided water for the sawmill and the mines, over the nearby rock formations to create the country’s highest man-made waterfall.

Stretching for more than 70 metres, Lady Exmouth Falls still attracts visitors to this day.

To reach the top of the waterfall, visitors will journey through the history of Canonteign Falls, passing the site of the old sawmill and its woodland.

Once at the top of the waterfall, holidaymakers can continue the climb upwards following a set of 90 Victorian steps, which lead to a Fern Garden.

On this route, visitors will cross the bridge at Devil’s Leap, the site of the Natural Falls, before emerging at the viewing platform at the very top of the valley.

Aside from the waterfalls, there are plenty of other attractions to keep families entertained, including a Bee Garden and the old Orchard.

Canonteign Falls is also home to seven lakes, one of those being Swan Lake, which is home to a bevy of black swans.

There’s also a children’s play area on site with a huge wooden galleon, a climbing wall, slide pole and rope ladders.

A climbing frame, a set of swings and two trampolines can also be found in the children’s play area.

Other attractions include a zip wire and a mini assault course.

Canonteign Falls has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with a 4.5/5 star rating from nearly 900 reviews.

One person wrote: “A really beautiful place to explore. The waterfalls are spectacular and the ferns make the place really atmospheric.”

While another added: “Such a beautiful, relaxing, place with lots of little hidden gems to discover around the lakes.”

Entry tickets cost £11.75 for a full-paying adult and £8.50 for children.

OTHER UK WATERFALLS

There are several other hidden waterfalls that can be found throughout the UK, including Batman Falls and Hardraw Force.

Batman falls

Film buffs might not know it, but a piece of Hollywood history can be found in a deep gorge in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.

The falls are known as “Batman’s Waterfall” after they featured in Christopher Nolan’s hit film The Dark Knight Rises.

Henrhyd Falls is where people can find the caped crusader’s hidden cave.

Hardraw Force

Gayle Beck is found near the confluence of the River Ure and gushes through the streets of Hawes, a tiny market town in the Yorkshire Dales.

It leads to Hardraw Force, one of the most visited spots in the area and one of the country’s biggest waterfalls.

Tumbling more than 100ft, the falls are located behind the Green Dragon Inn, a tavern that has been in its current location since the 13th century.

A northern county made the “world’s best places to visit in 2024” thanks to its great beaches, lavender fields, and dark skies.

And here’s the British national park that’s the best place to see the Northern Lights in the UK.

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