AS Britain shivered, I was wandering along a sandy beach in Cyprus in dazzling 21C sunshine.

At the water’s edge, a family relaxed on sunloungers while a man struck yoga poses.

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And even in winter, the water was warm enough for a dip.

Summer party hot spot Ayia Napa may be slumbering until the spring, but lovely Larnaca, just 40 minutes away, continues to welcome a more relaxed traveller in the depths of winter.

That was my cue to discover just how much there is to do out of season on this Mediterranean island — and brighten up an otherwise dreary winter.

Food would play a starring role — and I was about to go meze mad.

First up was Larnaca itself, where the new Rise Street Art Hotel has brought a fantastic funkiness to the city.

Street art is everywhere in this place, from the fabulous facade to the rooms and the rooftop bar, where guests get a free welcome drink.

It is a handy base for exploring the city’s Finikoudes Beach and its palm-shaded promenade, where Militzis Restaurant tempted me with its lavish meze.

Appetisers of creamy tahini dip, tzatziki and salad topped with halloumi set me up for kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), grilled chicken and pork souvlaki.

These are all dishes I’ve had many times before, but there’s something very appealing about eating authentic Cypriot food by the sea on the island itself.

It was an enticing taste of things to come.

After a nose around Larnaca’s food market and the colourful streets of the old town, I headed off to the village of Skarinou near the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.

There, I was given a masterclass in how to make halloumi, the “squeaky” cheese from Cyprus.

It is now found all around the world — but this stuff was the real deal, and bursting with intense flavour.

It was one of the activities offered by Golden Donkeys Farm, one of Europe’s biggest sanctuaries for the animals — and one of the cutest places I’ve ever seen.

It was hard not to go gaga over these gorgeous beasts, along with adorable baby goats and their mothers, whose milk is used for that wonderful halloumi.

The milk from the donkeys, meanwhile, goes into products in the farm’s shop, from face creams to a lovely liqueur rather like Baileys.

There was a quick stop at the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, whose ruins date back to at least 7,000BC, before heading to lunch at Dragon Nest in the village of Pentakomo.

Before I could say the word meze, I had plates of tahini dip (my new addiction), moreish courgette patties and possibly the best kleftiko in Cyprus laid in front of me.

I was going to need all that protein for a hike the following morning after recharging my energy at the cosy Petit Palais Boutique Hotel in the village of ­Platres.

Set in the Troodos Mountains, the village has an almost Alpine feeling and is a great starting point for some exhilarating hikes.

Autumnal forests

My goal was the Caledonian Waterfall Walking Trail.

This two-hour hike took me through autumnal forests and past waterfalls and rushing streams — with a few tricky log bridges and stepping stones to keep me on my toes.

Here in the Troodos range, I was discovering a different side of Cyprus.

And when I arrived in Marathasa Winery, high above the village of Oikos, I thought I had landed in a James Bond lair.

Perched on a hilltop, the ultra-modern winery and bar features huge windows that give fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and villages below.

It was an enchanting place to try exceptional local wines, including the crisp white xynisteri, which quickly became a favourite.

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The winery’s owner, John Papadouris, has brought abandoned vineyards back to life, but didn’t stop there.

He has also rejuvenated parts of the neighbouring village of Kalopanayiotis, including Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel & Spa.

Its Byzantino restaurant has another winning meze, this time with tomato and vegetable fritters and slow-cooked rabbit added to the mix.

Afterwards, I wandered round Kalopanayiotis’s pretty lanes, breathing in scents of mulled wine from the food stalls in the glittering festive market, one of the isle’s seven official Christmas Villages that run from late November till mid-January.

Soon, though, it was time to head back to the coast, and Cyprus’s second-largest city, Limassol.

The recently-opened five-star City of Dreams Mediterranean, near Lady’s Mile Beach, offers 500 stylish rooms and a huge casino alongside excellent restaurants, a spa and a massive pool complex with an adventure park, waterslides and wave pool.

Enchanting place

Some of the outdoor pools close for the winter, but not the Beach Pool, which is surrounded by sand and loungers for lazy days in the sun.

There was still Limassol to explore, especially its buzzing Old Town with lanes filled with bars, restaurants, outdoor terraces and people enjoying the mild evening air.

It was the perfect place for a stroll after another mega Med meze — this time a seafood extravaganza at Afxentis Fish Restaurant. Dish after dish arrived — calamari, prawns, mussels, octopus, sea bream, red mullet. All divine.

Sea, sunshine, superb food, Cypriot hospitality and beautiful landscapes — all I needed for a blissful winter escape.

A BUDGET airline has announced a route between Britain and a major European city.

Transavia – a subsidiary of Air France KLM – is launching a service from London Stansted to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

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The route will be launched on April 3 next year, with around four flights a week, Business Traveller reports.

These will be on Sunday and Monday lunchtimes, and Thursday and Friday evenings, it is understood.

Rotterdam serves as a trendy destination for culture vultures — crammed full of art and world-class grub.

Demolished by the Nazis in World War Two, Rotterdam has been revitalised in recent years.

The lesser-known Dutch city is crammed full of art and world-class grub, making it an ideal city-break destination.

The Cube Houses are some of the city’s most standout pieces of architecture.

Rotterdam is also home to the world’s first Floating Farm.

Located in the harbour, the first floating dairy farm in the world produces fresh products from 40 cows who live there.

Make sure to grab a bite to eat at one of the outdoor bars overlooking the Maas River.

Grab some traditional Dutch bitterballen with your drink — these deep-fried croquettes, made from stewed meat and served with mustard, are the perfect bar snack.

Head to the futuristic-looking Markthal for yet more food.

The giant food hall is packed with vendors selling grub from around the world as well as traditional local fare.

The news comes after The Sun reported last month that a new theme park is set to open in Rotterdam next spring.

Attractiepark Rotterdam is slated to open in March 2025, according to its owner Hennie van der Most.

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A FORGOTTEN ‘seaside’ town with plenty of tourists has some of the UK’s cheapest homes – but locals have never been to the shingle beach.

Workington in Cumbria sits just a few miles from the Lake District National Park, with a terraced property currently on sale for just £10,000.

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Another three-bedroom home is listed at £30,000.

Earlier this summer, it was named in the top 10 seaside towns with the most affordable homes by Rightmove.

The average house price is £141,674, according to the property site’s data.

The busy shopping area boasts high street giants such as Marks and Spencer, and Next.

Workington Beach sits just south of the mouth of the River Derwent and the docks area – although its sand is not exposed until low tide.

The town is the starting point for the Sea-to-Sea Cycle Route (C2C) over the Pennines to Sunderland.

Market stall operator Ian Cale, 63, told The Express he’s “not really ever got down to the beach” and described Workington itself as “a bit rundown” and in need of investment.

Florist Alison Short, 54, said she has never once been to the beach despite living there all her life, adding: “It definitely isn’t a seaside town.”

Shop owner Graeme Cameron, 55, said: “We do get plenty of tourists who come to see the area and a lot of them have got caravans – but a lot of that has to do with the Lakes as it’s cheaper to stay just outside than in the Lakes itself.”

According to Visit Cumbria: “Workington is an ancient market and industrial town at the mouth of the River Derwent, and is the main shopping centre for West Cumbria.

“Some parts of the town north of the River Derwent date back to Roman times.

“It was in the 18th century, with the exploitation of the local iron ore and coal pits, that Workington expanded to become a major industrial town and port.”

Points of interest include Jane Pit on recreational ground off Moss Bay Road.

It is the best surviving example of the ornate castellated style of colliery architecture.

While the ruins of Workington Hall sit on the northeast outskirts of the town, where Mary Queen of Scots once posed as an ordinary woman and wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth I after her forces were defeated at the Battle of Langside.

Do you live in a forgotten town in the UK? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk

A TOURIST hotspot in Spain has slammed holidaymakers with fresh restrictions – will you be affected?

Brits dreaming of jetting off to Seville are set to be impacted by the new rules, which will see a clamp down on Airbnb-style accommodation.

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The controversial regulations raised eyebrows as they were announced on Thursday.

It means the number of tourist apartments in each neighbourhood can’t exceed 10 per cent of total homes.

This will significantly impact areas such as Triana, that are already overrun with tourists, where no new licences will be granted.

Urban Planning delegate, Juan de la Rosa, said the move hopes to forge more reconciliation between tourism and disgruntled locals who feel pushed out.

But, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party hit back and said new rules should have be even “tougher and more ambitious”.

Under the fresh policy, 23,000 licences could still be granted in areas with less tourists.

It comes after government in Barcelona stripped 10,000 tourist flats of their licence to the fury of Airbnb owners.

And, in June, the mayor of the Catalan capital announced a full ban in holiday apartments by November 2028 in an attempt to relieve the city’s housing crisis.

The famous city also revealed there would be an increase on daily tourist charges.

It comes after the cosmopolitan capital previously upped their traveller tax from €2.75 (£2.33) to €3.25 (£2.75) in April.

Brits on Tenerife holidays blasted for turning sunny haven into a ‘tourism ghetto’ amid calls for huge clampdown

By Summer Raemason

FUMING locals have slammed selfish holidaymakers in Tenerife for turning their paradise into a ‘tourism ghetto’.

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An influx of “ignorant” visitors has sparked outrage among Canary islands residents, as costs soar and drunken partygoers keep them up all night.

The Covid pandemic saw a boost in tourists arriving to the popular destination, and now locals are revolting in the wake of skyrocketing rent prices and overburdened services.

Some took to the streets with spray paint to sprawl bitter messages outside tourism hotspots which read “your paradise, our misery” and “tourists go home”.

Josua Garcia-Garcia is up in arms about the ongoing ordeal and told the MailOnline it is a “nightmare” when holidaymakers take over the island.

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“I only get four hours of sleep every night because of the music and noise, which keeps me up until three in the morning,” explained the 33-year-old bar worker.

The frustrated local called for “stricter rules” to be enforced on “ignorant” tourists to prevent residents from more “suffering”.

“Rents are soaring and people on average salaries cannot afford to live here any more, once they pay their rent they have no money for food,” he continued.

It comes as more AirBnBs crop up across the island, driving residents out, with less properties on the market.

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In turn, the price tag on remaining homes is becoming too expensive for those who want to stay.

And, Tenerife is not the only holiday destination struggling with this issue.

Locals in UK coastal resorts such as Devon and Cornwall have also blasted greedy tourists for snapping up second homes.

The issue worsened amid Covid as more Brits chose staycations over travelling abroad.

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Last year, Canary Island residents held a protest against the arrival of more holidaymakers.

In what has been dubbed ‘tourismphobia’, they marched the streets holding banners which read “the Canaries are no longer a paradise” and “the Canaries are not for sale”.

Doctor Matías González Hernández, an academic at Las Palmas University, claimed locals faced homelessness.

He said they “can’t afford to rent or buy a house” due to rising inflation and rent prices.

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More graffiti in the popular town of Las Palmas reflect this, and read “average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200,” which equates to £1,000.

The academic called on their government for better infrastructure to accommodate growing demands – such as improving roads.

“Right now you get stuck for two hours on the main road,” he said.

Now, holidaymakers will be forced to fork out €4 (£3.39) for city tax from October to enjoy the beauties Barcelona has to offer.

It comes after the city council vowed to promote “quality tourism”, with around 32million holidaymakers arriving per year.

Meanwhile, the shift against holidaymaker accommodation in Seville was sparked after it was revealed rental prices have risen by over 70 per cent in the last 10 years.

The anguish reflects how Tenerife locals felt in recent news when they made headlines for holding anti-tourism protests in the streets.

Residents in idyllic hotspots have slammed holidaymakers for staining important amenities.

Essentials including post offices and village shops were being disposed of to make way for more houses and cafes for tourists.

And, locals are struggling to climb on the property ladder as many houses sit empty, being used as second homes and holiday lets.

In some hotspots this has created a major housing crisis as demand for accommodation and second homes drives house prices sky high.

Road infrastructure and parking systems also often can’t cope with more tourists – leading to traffic chaos and safety concerns.

The issues see younger families leaving the area, in turn making it harder for community members left behind.

It comes as other holiday destinations closer to home have slammed tourists.

Disgruntled locals along the beautiful north Norfolk coast have voiced support for a unbroken 30-mile “wall” in a bid to stop the influx of unwelcome visitors.

Meanwhile, residents living in Anglesey, North Wales, say their lives are being plagued by inconsiderate visitors and ‘greedy’ outsiders snapping up second homes.

Elsewhere in the UK, homeowners of Staithes. the northernmost village in Yorkshire, are frustrated with holiday lets.

And, in Padstow, North Cornwall, glorious golden beaches and picturesque countryside are a hit with tourists – but now its popularity is wreaking havoc with residents.

Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots

A WAVE of anti-tourist measures are being implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots.

Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy.

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Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels.

Earlier this year Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for holidaymakers after it started charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) if visiting the historical Italian centre.

It was followed by an area in Barcelona which resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop crowds of tourists from using the bus.

 Meanwhile, San Sebastián in the north of Spain, limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding.

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The city has already banned the construction of new hotels.

The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more for sitting in the shade in Andalucia.

Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000.

The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors – and charge tourists a daily tax.

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Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the booked accommodation.

Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips.

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GREEK island are aplenty, with Santorini and Mykonos some of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

But a new study has named the island of Paros as a trending destination for next year.

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American Express Travel included the island in their 2025 Trending Destinations list.

Analysing travel bookings as well as working with global travel consultants, the island was one of the few European destinations to make the list.

The website states: “Laid-back Paros has become the Greek island of choice for many.

“The cultural scene is vibrant here, and the rocky coastline is studded with beaches, secluded coves, and sea caves.

“A mere 40-minute flight from Athens—or three hours on a ferry—this windblown retreat is also easy to get to.”

Around 200,000 people visit a year – just 10 per cent of the annual tourists that go to Santorini.

This means you can expect the island to be much quieter, and off-the-beaten track.

Its famous for a few things. This includes its marble, which was considered to be the best in ancient times, but there are other attractions too, including its many beaches.

The town of Naoussa is the second largest town on the island and has been called a “smaller version of Mykonos”.

Expect amazing seafood when there too, with most of it caught at fresh before being served up

However, it is also undergoing some new changes.

The island’s airport is expanding its terminal and runway, which will allow better infrastructure for travel.

The €41million project hopes to be complete by 2026.

New hotels are popping up too.

This includes the boutique Andronis which opened earlier this year and a new Canaves Collection resort following success in Santorini.

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Last year, professional travel planer Jennifer Greene said Paros was on the up.

She added: “The lack of an international airport tends to keep it that way, but a gentle ebb of chic new hotels is attracting more tourists.”

American Express also named Brittany in France as a trending hotspot.

They included the destination because of its “distinctive culture, coastal scenery and miles of seaside walking paths like the GR34 trail”.

Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the region’s most famous attractions, located in the bay shared by Normandy and Brittany.

One beach that’s proven popular among holidaymakers because of its long stretch of sandy beach, stunning views, and tranquil waters is Plage de Tahiti.

Ferry is a popular option for travelling to Brittany from the UK – with routes from Plymouth and Poole.

BEING the most popular holiday destination for Brits, choosing where to go in Spain can be tricky.

But Valencia was named the best city in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler – and I was lucky enough to have visited.

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Spain isn’t short of beautiful cities – Barcelona and Madrid being the most popular – as well as stunning islands such as Tenerife and Majorca.

I’ve managed to visit nearly 10 different spots across Spain.

But Valencia is my favourite with so much going for it, from futuristic attractions to affordable food and drink.

I was unlucky enough to have visited during the 2022 ‘heat dome‘ which saw temperatures soar to 45C.

It certainly made it a challenge to explore – after all, being 30C at both 8am and 8pm meant there was no escape.

Thankfully, I enjoyed the heat, so made the most of the quieter-than-usual streets because of the (sensible) people taking shelter.

But my favourite attraction that I think is unmissible is the City of Arts and Science.

The huge complex – costing £760million and taking a decade – is home to a number of different structures to explore.

Film fans will recgonise it, featuring in both Westworld and Doctor Who.

There’s the Science Museum, with enough interactive experiences for kids to enjoy.

But for adults there is the Opera House with live musical perfomances and shows.

Outside of the complex, the city is beautiful enough by itself.

Many of the huge Art Deco buildings make the streets feel like a film set,complete with vintage street lights.

There is El Cabanyal, a trendy district named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Europe by The Guardian.

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It’s here I fell into a warehouse-cum-greenhouse that had both a bar and jazz being played live on stage.

But the cheapest eat I found was La Finestra back in the city, where not only are the beers cheap, but you can get mini pizzas for just £2.

There’s a number of new hotels opening in the city, such as a new Novotel in downtown this December.

I stayed at the Valencia Oceanic by Melia. It was simple, but had its own pool and was a short walk to everything you need.

This includes the huge stretch of beach to the east, with the Las Arenas strip having bars and cafes.

Flights to Valencia are as little as £16.99 with Ryanair from Birmingham or £20.99 with easyJet from London Gatwick.