A CITY in Spain with nearby beautiful beaches, hot October weather, and fewer crowds than other Spanish cities is fast becoming a popular spot among holidaymakers looking for an autumn break.

Murcia, in south-eastern Spain, has a Mediterranean climate meaning is has hot summers, mild winters and low chance of rain.

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In October, it reaches average temperatures of 24°C, making it one of the hottest places in Europe.

And the Spanish city has a lot of other things going for it too.

Nicknamed the ‘garden of Europe‘, it has over two million square metres of parks and gardens. 

Among the most popular parks is Floridablanca Gardens. During Murcia’s scorching summers, city residents head for this cool oasis on the other side of the river.

It has colourful flower gardens and plenty of shaded areas, and its most stunning inhabitants are the old ficus trees.

It’s also the city’s oldest public park, open since the mid-19th century.

Other parks include La Seda, a garden with a raised deck, water features, and wildlife, and a park behind El Corte Inglés, with a pond, ducks, and a walled garden.

Also the name of the region, Murcia’s coast, Costa Cálida, is known as the ‘warm coast’ because of its consistently warm temperatures.

It’s 250km of coastline has a number of Blue Flag beaches, including hidden coves and golden sand. 

The Mar Menor, a small sea, is located in the La Manga area and is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon.

Other Murcia attractions include Sanctuary of la Fuensanta, one of the region’s most important places of worship.

It features an image of the city’s patron saint and offers panoramic views of the city and its orchard.

El Valle y Carrascoy Regional Park is a 17,000-hectare park known as the ‘green lung’ of Murcia, featuring woodland and scrub-land paths.

The park has a number of trails and rock climbs as well as viewing points with 360 degree views of the city of Murcia and the surrounding mountain peaks and valley.

Rafting on the Segura River is a popular activity when visiting the city.

Rapids and stretches that offer different levels of difficulty, and if rafting isn’t your thing, people also take banana boats out on the water.

Despite the allure of beachfront luxury, Murcia remains affordable compared to more tourist-heavy destinations in Spain.

Many 5* hotels offer cheap deals, including Ona Mar Menor – Golf Resort & Spa, where prices start from £60 a night in October and November.

Flights are also good value – easyJet flights from London Gatwick to Murcia start from £38.99 for one way.

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WHEN Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park hit the big screen in 1993, fictional paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler made fossil hunting look cool.

However, Brit holidaymakers don’t need to visit a desert – or an island covered with dinosaurs – to step into Dr Grant’s fictional shoes because England is home to one of the best fossil hunting spots in the world.

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Smithsonian Magazine named the Jurassic Coast as one of the best fossil-collecting sites on Earth because visitors are actively encouraged to save fossils, where possible, for research purposes.

The Jurassic Coast was also named one of the best fossil hunting spots in the UK by Countryfile.

England‘s Jurassic Coast stretches for 95 miles from East Devon to Dorset, meaning there’s lots of space for dinosaur enthusiasts – whatever the age.

Would-be paleontologists should make a beeline for Lyme Regis, which is often dubbed the Jurassic Coast’s fossil capital thanks to English fossil collector Mary Anning.

The 19th-century paleontologist made some important discoveries, including finding the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton and the first plesiosaur skeleton. 

And there are still plenty of skeletons, dinosaur footprints and fossilised treasures waiting to be found, with a 6ft-long pliosaur skull found just last year.

Other prime fossil hunting spots include Kimmeridge Bay, a sheltered and secluded bay that’s a mixture of pebbles and sand.

There’s also Ringstead Bay, an unspoilt beach that’s backed by farmland and cliffs.

At Ringstead Bay the bedrock must not be disturbed, meaning fossil hunters will need to look with the eyes rather than taking their finds home to be verified.

If you’re not much of an explorer, but still want to see traces of dinosaurs, then head to the Spyway Dinosaur Footprints.

What is it like to visit the Jurassic Coast?

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ASSISTANT Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski (centre) explains what it’s actually like to visit Durdle Door.

DESPITE the Jurassic Coast being one of the most well-known spots for rambling in the UK, it has managed to remain gloriously peaceful.

I barely passed another soul during a Sunday hike along the rugged coastal path above Durdle Door a few years back – only a herd of cows munching on the unkempt grass at the top of the cliff.

Admittedly, things grew a little busier as I approached Lulworth Cove. But that’s no surprise with a horseshoe-shaped pebble bay and turquoise waters that could rival those in the Caribbean.

Make sure to wander over to Fossil Forest while you’re here too, where you can observe ripples of an ancient sea floor within the rocks and fossilised remains of old tree stumps that date back to the dinosaur era.

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Located in Purbeck, next to a working quarry, it is easily accessible from the Priest’s Way walking path.

The footprints were made 145 million years ago when the area was covered in tropical forests and swamps, giving visitors the chance to step back in time.

The fossils were discovered in 1997 by quarrymen Kevin Keates and Trev Haysom before the site opened to the public in 2016, with the Jurassic Coast Trust occasionally running guided walks of the site.

Charmouth, a village in Dorset, is another prime location for fossil hunting.

Make a beeline for Charmouth Beach and get booked onto a fossil hunting walk with Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre.

The 90-minute walking tour takes place outdoors where a guide helps holidaymakers search for fossils, with visitors even able to take their treasures home.

A trip to the Jurassic Coast isn’t complete without seeing Durdle Door – one of the area’s most well-known landmarks.

The natural arch was formed from a layer of hard limestone that stands almost vertically out of the sea.

Durdle Door stands at the foot of a steep path, which is accessible from the South West Coast Path.

In the last few years, some holidaymakers have likened Durdle Door to beaches in Portugal because of its coastline and rock formations.

One person wrote on TripAdvisor: “Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door: Reminded me of the Algarve in Portugal!”

While another added: “The rocks protruding out of the sea were so pretty you would forget you’re still in England and reminded me of a trip to Portugal.”

A third commented: “You don’t feel like you are in the UK. It seems more like Portugal or California.”

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay overnight, then the Sun’s Head of Travel recommends Durdle Door Holiday Park.

The family-owned holiday park has endless sea views as well as unrivalled access to Durdle Door.

Sun Online Travel have found touring pitches from £30 per night per pitch.

There are plenty of other places across the Uk where dinosaur enthusiasts can get the Jurassic Park fix.

One of those places is Paradise Park in East Sussex, which is home to life-size moving dinosaurs, fossils and a Dinosaur Safari at Paradise Park.

Meanwhile, Knebworth House in Herefordshire has a dinosaur-themed adventure section.

And Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park in North Devon has 19 animatronic dinosaurs, including a life-sized T-Rex, Dino Express train and a play zone.

Meanwhile, ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure in Norfolk is set to open a new land in 2026.

Gigantosaurus Land will be based on an animated series of the same name, which currently streams worldwide on services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus.

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A HOLIDAY park expert has revealed some of his top tips – and the key feature he always checks before booking.

Robbie Lane has visited dozens of holiday parks across the UK, with an ambition to one day visit them all.

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Robbie, who runs Holiday Park Guru has been to all kinds of resorts, from the popular Center Parcs and Butlin’s to lesser-known independent sites.

But there is one feature he always makes sure they have before he books a trip there.

The former BBC journalist told Sun Online Travel: “I look for a holiday park that is walking distance to a beach, ideally with a sea view.

He added it makes it “much less hassle” especially when travelling as a family if you can avoid having to pack everything into a car.

He continued: “And it makes it much easier to fit in a quick seaside stroll after tea.”

He also said he tries to make sure the beaches that are at the holiday parks are both clean and safe for children, and gave some trips on where to find his favourites.

Robbie added: “If you want to try surfing and bodyboarding, then Devon and Cornwall are particularly good, as are parts of Wales.

“Haven, Parkdean Resorts and Away Resorts all have holiday parks next to outstanding beaches in the West Country.

“The east coast of England and Scotland has lots of very wide open beaches with big open skies and space for walking the dog.”

One holiday park Robbie previously raved about was Ladram Bay in Devon – an award-winning site with its own private beach.

The sand-washed pebble beach has a stretch of rockpools and watersports like kayaks, paddleboards and motorboats can be rented from the holiday park.

Holidaymakers who don’t fancy a bracing dip will be pleased to know there’s also a heated indoor swimming pool on-site, complete with slides.

There’s also a small pool with a children’s play area as well as an outdoor splash area with water features, spray guns and pirate ships.

Likewise, Darwin Escapes Woodside Coastal Retreat on the Isle of Wight, is one of the Holiday Park Guru’s favourite UK sites.

He previously told Sun Online Travel: “The holiday park is practically on the beach looking towards Portsmouth, it’s brilliant.”

If a holiday park isn’t next to a beach, Robbie recommends looking for an indoor swimming pool.

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The Holiday Park Guru previously recommended Searles in Norfolk and Hendra Holiday Park in Cornwall as two sites with indoor pools.

Searles holiday park in Norfolk is located next to the Victorian seaside town of Hunstanton and has been welcoming families for 83 years.

There are plenty of indoor facilities, including a heated indoor pool with a jacuzzi and sauna.

For younger guests, there’s also an indoor splash pool with dual slides and interactive water features.

Meanwhile, Hendra Holiday Park near Newquay has one of the largest indoor pools in the South West.

The Oasis Fun Pools feature an indoor pool with a river-rapid, a water cannon, tipping buckets, water fountains and three water flume rides.

Earlier this year, Robbie revealed England’s top three underrated holiday parks – with private beaches, indoor water parks and jet skis for kids.

And here are the other lesser-known holiday parks named among the best in the UK.

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THE BEST airport in the world is now in Europe – and there are cheap flights there from the UK.

Istanbul Airport has been voted the best by Conde Nast Traveler in it’s

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It was also voted the best earlier this year by Travel + Leisure.

It opened in 2018, before welcoming passengers in 2019.

The airport has routes to 317 destinations with including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Some of the cheapest are with Wizz Air, flying from London Stansted which can be found for as little as £47 return.

And Turkish Airlines is hoping to connect Istanbul Airport to both Glasgow and Newcastle for the first time.

But if you want to spend some time at the airport or you have a long layover, there is a lot to keep you busy

One of its main attractions is the Istanbul Airport Museum – one of the the largest of its kinds in the world.

Inside are 316 works from 29 museums, with the current exhibition being Türkiye’s Treasures; Faces of the Throne.

There is also the Istanbul Airport library, with 2,000 books to choose from.

For younger kids there are 11 kids playgrounds to choose from.

Five of theme are themed, called Cigaland Forest, Cigaland Space, Cigaland Sea, Cigaland Sky and Cigaland Ice.

There is even a designated Youth Lounge area – suited for anyone between 15 and 30 – with Playstations, board games, a football table and projectors, as well as snacks and drinks.

An on-site spa has massages, manicures and haircuts and you can even reserve private sleeping pods showers and ‘business pods’ for working.

Even the airports restaurants are award-winning, being named the World’s best Airport Dining by Skytrax this year.

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With more than 100 restaurants and cafes, Saltbae even opened his first airport restaurant there last year.

It’s on-site airport hotel, Yotel is one of the biggest airport hotels in the world, and is the largest in Europe.

There are 451 rooms to choose from, with 171 landside and 280 airside.

Istanbul Airport also hopes to become the world’s largest aviation hub.

The four-phase expansion, set to be complete by 2025, will increase its capacity from 90million to 120million.

And by 2028, this will expand to 200million, with six new runways.

Chief executive Selahattin Bilgen told CNBC: “Istanbul Airport is breaking records in European aviation.

“About 80 per cent of our passengers are international, and half of these are transfer passengers, contributing directly to our economy through their foreign exchange expenditures.”

Istanbul Airport beat Singapore’s Changi Airport, often also named one of the worlds best airports.

And the airport has revealed plans for a new £7.6billion terminal – which will take passenger numbers to 120million a year.

We’ve also rounded up five huge new airports set to open in Europe in the next few decades.