MY friend and I are lounging by the pool at the Hotel Molitor when a message comes through from her mum: “Are you at the Emily In Paris hotel?”

All she’d done was share a snap of the lido on her Instagram, with zero mention of the Netflix comedy drama that stars a US twentysomething living her best life in the French capital.

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The Parisians might loathe the series but the rest of us love it — it’s one of the streaming giant’s most popular.

In fact, it’s one of the reasons we decided to book ourselves into the five-star hotel to the west of the city, which had a starring role in season three as Emily spent the afternoon sipping drinks by the pool.

It’s hardly in the centre of the action — the Molitor is in the fashionable 16th arrondissement, about 25 minutes on the Metro to the Eiffel Tower — but as a result, it’s a peaceful haven.

The rooms are small but stylish with large, space-age beds, Clinique toiletries and floor-length windows that look out over the huge art-deco outdoor pool.

Hotel guests lounge in Molitor-branded deckchairs and bathrobes poolside, making you feel simultaneously in and out of Paris — this was, after all, where the bikini was first introduced to the world in 1946.

Paris has always been the fashion capital of the world but, when it comes to fun, the city had felt like in recent years like it was losing its mojo.

Millennials looking for city breaks opted for cool Berlin, fun Amsterdam or chic Copenhagen, while Paris was considered better for rich oldies, with its brasseries, pricey department stores and museums.

We were seated next to the DJ decks and served Michelin-quality gourmet food but without the fuss

But it’s now back in vogue, experiencing a a renaissance.

Yes, that is in part because the spotlight is back on Paris, thanks to the recent 2024 Olympics, and Emily In Paris, but it’s also because young Paris has found its voice.

Places like the 11th and 18th arrondissements — the cool, Shoreditch-like parts of the city — are packed with restaurants and bars that have a distinctly Parisian edge but without the old-school fustiness.

Try Pantobaguette, for instance, the hip little eaterie that fuses French and Japanese cuisine.

We were seated next to the DJ decks and served Michelin-quality gourmet food but without the fuss.

We dined on ajitsuke eggs with wasabi mayo, aubergine with white peaches and anchovies with smoked butter to a background of Nineties hip-hop.

Or how about Folderol, selling only gelato and natural wine, where locals sip their evening aperitif while lounging on the kerb.

Oysters and wine

When we’d finished our ice creams, we headed to Bambino, a chic restaurant-cocktail bar where records line the walls and you can enjoy a terrace view of the Eiffel Tower.

Nobody does casual sipping like the French — they’ve turned it into an art form.

In Paris, the cool younger bars we went to were all serving affordable but great wine by the small glass, often out of a pump.

Back at a small neighbourhood bistro in the 18th arrondissement, we joined the locals for an early-evening pitstop at the stripped-back La Trincante, where they had a deal of six oysters and a glass of white wine for €14.

Add to that one extra glass of wine for my friend, and the free basket of bread you get in every French restaurant, and our bill came to less than €10 each.

The city’s flea markets are legendary, especially the Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, which features in the new series of Emily In Paris

Equally astonishing prices could be found at one of Paris’s best flea markets, Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves.

The city’s flea markets are legendary, especially the Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, which features in the new series of Emily In Paris.

But we headed to the 14th arrondissement for a market that’s mainly frequented by cool locals, and browsed jewellery, furniture and handbags.

The prices — maybe 25 euros for a painting, five for a broach — were impossible to resist.

Equally classy were the Parisians who we met at Rock en Seine, a day festival in the west of the city, who in the midst of the main-stage crowd were sipping their afford-able rosé out of dainty plastic wine glasses .

It really was a very cool crowd, who had assembled to see Fred Again, one of the most exciting artists to emerge from the British dance scene in years, play a headline set.

Among other huge stars were Lana del Rey and LCD Soundsystem. Aside from the Reading and Leeds Festivals, he is doing zero UK gigs this year — but is gracing Parisians with his presence. Clearly, Fred knows the city is where it’s at.

I’ve been to a lot of festivals but this one must be the friendliest I’ve attended — forget the French reputation for snootiness, by the end we were on first-name terms with everyone within ten metres.

In fact, we even bumped into some of our new friends at the Eurostar station the following day, on our return to London.

It seemed a fair number of festival-goers had the same idea as us, to head over for Fred Again’s set and spend a couple of days exploring the city.

And why not, because swapping a short-haul flight for a two-hour train journey makes all the difference when on a weekend break.

We arrived in Paris feeling fresh and pulled back into King’s Cross St Pancras feeling, frankly, very well rested.

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A BURGER shack in Rye has been crowned the best place in the UK to grab a quick bite to eat.

Frankie’s At The Beach and Rye Rugby Club has everything to satisfy every burger and hot dog fan’s needs.

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With a hut just down the road from popular East Sussex attraction Camber Sands, right on the beach, the street experts have been proven to be a popular choice with the people visiting the area.

On its menu you’ll find gourmet beef burgers, with your classic plain and cheese burgers, alongside their ‘special burger’ – a 6oz patty topped with melted cheese, bacon, sausage and egg.

There are also three types of chicken burgers and hot dogs and German sausages that come in different sizes.

This even includes foot longs if you’re feeling especially hungry.

Frankie’s was given the best Quick Bite accolade in the Tripadvisor Travellers‘ Choice Awards Best of the Best Restaurants 2024.

Tripadvisor picked out its winners by looking at the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings for restaurants from travellers over a 12-month period.

As well as having great tasting food, customers have voiced approval over Frankie’s cheap prices.

One customer who visited in June this year wrote on Tripadvisor: “After a lovely walk on Camber beach came across Frankie’s at the far end.

“Frankie’s offer an extensive range of really high end delicious burgers at very reasonable prices.

“Huge choice including one of the best vegetarian burgers we have ever eaten. Highly recommend.”

A plain beef burger will set you back just £5.95.

For £3 more you can get a foot long German sausage.

Customers also enjoy Frankie’s location with views overlooking the sea and Camber Sands beach.

Someone who visited in September this year commented on the review website: “Great views. Lovely location. Would recommend and will be coming back again at some point in the near future.”

The service at Frankie’s also helped earn it its place at the top of Tripadvisor’s list.

One customer who visited in the summer said he received service with a smile.

They wrote: “10/10 service with a smile with Frankie cracking jokes.

“I’m in my 50s and this felt like old school service where the customers matter. Thanks for that as I definitely find that important.”

Owner Frankie’s partner Naomi Ledsham, said they were over the moon to hear the news about winning the award.

She added: “To win this is just testament to the hard work of not only of Frankie but the team that work behind the scenes and of course the guys and girls serving front of house!”

Frankie’s recently introduced venison burgers to the menu, which Naomi said have been a big hit.

But it’s Frankie himself that Naomi said has led to so many good reviews.

She said: “Frankie is a boy out of South London who has been a retailer his whole life from running menswear shops, car showrooms and now food and ice cream.

“A real character whose values in whatever business he turns his hand to are old school values.

Here’s another place that’s been voted one of the best places to eat in the UK – which is a mashed potato restaurant.

And here are Tripadvisor’s top cheap eats this year.

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AN island in Scotland that was abandoned after a disease outbreak in the 19th century is only available for visits one day of the year, in summer. 

Eynhallow is a small, uninhabited island located between Orkney Mainland and the island of Rousay, off the north coast of Scotland.

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And an annual trip that takes place in July each year is the only way people can see it.

The island was inhabited until 1851, when the four families who lived there fled after a disease epidemic broke out.

To be sure that no one would return, the roofs of their homes were removed.

Eynhallow has an important place in Norse folklore – its name derives from the old Norse Eyin-Helga, meaning ‘Holy Isle’.

Historians believe that for many years the island was considered a place of pilgrimage.

Along with preservation of its natural beauty and the wildlife that live there, and the fact the island is too small to be worth inhabiting, this is why the island remains unpopulated today.

The annual trip to Eynhallow is organised by the Orkney Heritage Society, where visitors are accompanied by experts, guides and storytellers.

One of the stories told about the island is that it’s not always visible to human eyes and could disappear suddenly if not kept within sight.

The Orkney Heritage Society trip uses the services of the Tingwall-Rousay ferry.

Visitors can arrange their own transport to the island by hiring a boat from Rousay or Orkney Mainland.

But getting there can be difficult because of its location and the strong tides.

One of the island’s main attractions is the ruins of Eynhallow Church.

The church was originally used as a dwelling, but its true purpose was only revealed after the thatched roof was lost.

The porch walls, nave gables, and lower section of the chancel walls show traces of the original Norse kirk. 

Today, the island is used for grazing sheep and is an important sanctuary for nesting birds, in particular the Arctic tern.

Orkney is one of the top destinations in the UK for seal spotting.

And Eynhallow is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest as a breeding ground for the common seal.

Tickets for this year’s trip to Eynhallow were £35.

They can be purchased on Eventbrite via the Orkney Heritage Society website, although the date for next year is yet to be announced.

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GOOGLE Flights have revealed a new tool that will refund your flight price difference if it gets cheaper before you travel.

The new feature offers travellers the lowest price guarantee when booking certain flights.

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Google announced: “No one likes to feel buyer’s remorse, and that’s especially true for a big purchase like plane tickets where the prices change from day to day.”

The new tool enables travellers to determine whether the price of their trip is low, high, or average for their planned trip.

Jetsetters can also set flexible dates to find the cheapest time to book.

Google is currently testing a new program that guarantees the cheapest option for your next flight.

However, if the price drops between the time of purchase and take-off, Google will pay the difference via Google Pay.

A Google blog post about the feature claimed: “These price guarantees are part of a pilot program available for select Book on Google itineraries departing from the US.”

Flights eligible for refunds through the app will be marked with price guarantee badges, indicating that Google is confident the price won’t drop further before take-off.

Therefore, travellers will be compensated for the difference through the Google Pay app if the price drops.

The refund policy will only apply to flights that are booked with Google and departing from the US.

Travellers should ensure there is a price guarantee badge before purchasing a ticket otherwise, they won’t be eligible for a refund if the price drops before takeoff.

It comes after a holiday booking expert has revealed the best way for passengers to save money when buying their flights.

Gilbert Ott is a frequent flyer and founder of the website God Save the Points, where he advises people on how to get the best deals on their plane tickets, as well as offering other tips and tricks.

As far as he’s concerned there are only really two days every year when passengers are guaranteed to find cheaper flight prices.

For the rest of the year, they have to use other methods to make sure they don’t overpay.

He told Mail Online that “Black Friday and Cyber Monday” were the closest thing holidaymakers would likely get to “a magical day to book travel”.

Instead, he recommends flying at certain times of the year to keep costs down, as well as getting to grips with online price trackers.

He continued: “To score the best flight deals, it’s often more about when you want to go than when you want to book, and setting price alerts to see when prices do change.

“Think about changing your travel plans to shoulder season months when airfare can be 43 per cent lower or better.

“Also, don’t be afraid to learn everything you can about Google Flights, so you can let the best deals you’ve searched for come to your inbox.”

He recommends setting price alerts as early as possible and relaxing while the price changes are emailed directly to you.

I HAD always thought that luxury sailing trips were the preserve of the rich and famous, made solely for billionaires who have ballrooms and swimming pools on their yachts.

But I could not have been more wrong.

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And you do not even need to escape the UK to experience it.
My partner and I, frazzled by the school holidays, had just whisked our three kids and their grandpa off for a three-night boating getaway in Norfolk.

Home for the weekend, the Fair Statesman, was a gleaming white motor cruiser rented from Norfolk Broads Direct, which although no billionaire yacht, had ample space for our party of six.

The aft cabin (am getting there with boat lingo — it means “at the back”) featured a spacious double bedroom with an en suite.

Then there was another double in the mid-cabin with a bathroom directly opposite and a forward cabin in what I called “the nose” of the vessel with cute bunks where all three of my kids could snuggle down.

Again, they had their own bathroom. The kitchen came kitted out with an oven, a microwave, toaster and full fridge, while the spacious lounge area offered comfy banquette seating and a table that folded out — with a large telly and a games console.

But my kids didn’t need electronic distractions because we were lucky enough to have glorious weather, which we regularly soaked up from the comfy seats on the top of the sundeck.

We had been sailing through Norfolk’s Broads National Park, home to 125 miles of open waterways that offer breathtaking views of nature.

Prior to the trip, I had not so much as steered a dingy, but Norfolk Broads Direct made us feel fully prepared with advance safety videos and the friendly staff member who ran through everything on arrival.

The 5mph speed limit on the broads meant life moved at a leisurely pace as we meandered along these wildlife-fringed waterways, observing herons, swans and dragonflies the size of small birds.

Come 4pm each day we would find a mooring point and tie up for the night, using the opportunity to connect to power or fill the water tank up.

Luckily, Norfolk Broads Direct had given us detailed maps plus an easy-to-follow itinerary that meant we could navigate like pros.

After a tranquil first night spent on Salthouse Broad, we were up early to head to Ranworth, where we climbed to the top of the pretty St Helen’s Church nicknamed “Cathedral of the Broads”.

The spiral steps of the tower may have tired our legs, but the view from the top was well worth it.

This area is home to a nature reserve that has a fantastic wildlife centre on stilts above the broads.

Visitors can rent binoculars for birdwatching, while children get stuck into the interactive exhibits. Our kids loved the stickers they were given, each featuring a different local bird that matched their “wingspan”.

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Next stop on our list was St Benet’s Abbey, whose ruins make for a dramatic picture.

At the meeting point of the rivers Bure and Ant, this historic site dates back to Anglo Saxon times.

It has been a favourite spot for artists, poets and photographers for 200 years.

Our boat adventure finished in the bustling town of Wroxham, just a 30-minute car ride from Great Yarmouth

We struck lucky as our visit happened to fall on the one Sunday of the year when the Bishop of Norwich, still officially the Abbot, conducts a service.

It was quite a sight seeing him arrive in billowing ecclesiastical robes on one of only eight remaining “wherries”, the traditional wooden sailing ships that used to transport cargo around the broads.

After even more picturesque waterways and stops, our boat adventure finished in the bustling town of Wroxham, just a 30-minute car ride from Great Yarmouth.

Being so close, we could not resist swinging by to watch the epic show at their famous Hippodrome circus — one final treat for the kids.

It has certainly got the wow factor. And the finale was truly one of the best things I have seen in a theatre as the circus ring filled with water to allow for a spectacular synchronised swimming and water acrobatics performance.

A fitting end to our water-born family holiday.

“IT’S almost as if Disneyland Paris was made with kids in mind,” my sister said after one too many rugrats ran into me.

She wasn’t wrong.

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It had been a childhood dream of ours to go.

Now we were ditching the little ones for an adult-only trip to the famed Paris theme park.

Without children, it meant we could avoid the long waits for character meets, skip the Disney dining and not worry about limiting wine.

And having opted for the Premier Access Ultimate, I realised you can easily do both of the parks in one day, if you are savvy.

The pass, admittedly an extra £83 on top of the park entrance fee, can be used once on several rides, usually those with the biggest queues.

My sister couldn’t quite stomach Hyperspace Mountain, known for hitting speeds of 71kmph.

Didn’t matter to me, I hopped through the fast queue and rejoined her barely five minutes later.

Also worth the queue jump are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, where wait times can be more than an hour, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.

I’m not sure how, but I ended up with 60,000 points after frantically zipping and zapping the villain Zurg, much to my sister’s chagrin.

The photo at the end may have caught us grappling with each other as we tried to block the other’s laser gun.

The pass can be used on other long-wait rides including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, one of the scarier roller-coasters, as well as the laid-back driving Autopia ride.

But there is also the second park, Walt Disney Studios, to make the most of too.

Home to both Toon Studios and Avengers Campus, our competitive nature was tested once again on the Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure ride.

Similar to Buzz, this time we had to fling “webs” using our arms to stop the multiplying Spider-Bots.

My winning streak ended here, and I was smashed on the scoreboard by my very smug sibling.

I cheered myself up with a glass of champagne from a cart back on Main Street.

Unique to Disneyland Paris, it comes with a €20 price tag although you get to keep the souvenir cup.

Continuing our “hooray no kids” theme, our evening carried on at the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a five-minute walk from the park gates.

We made the most of joyously late dinners at the Manhattan Restaurant with huge plates of pasta, followed by drinks at the Skyline Bar.

Firework show

That rollercoaster adrenaline hadn’t worn off, so after watching the final firework show in the park, we opted for a late night at the Disney Village.

With some bars open until 2am, we danced and sang to live pop and country music at Billy Bob’s.

It was our aching feet that brought us back to the hotel after racking up 32,000 steps.

We gorged on turkey legs, creamy tartiflette and sickly sweet Darth Vader waffles to keep us going throughout the day

Kara

Our only day-time respite was at the hotel’s Metro Pool, brisk at first but with a warmer hot tub to help our sore toes.

The park is currently undergoing a transformation ahead of the new Frozen land, so expect some closures and boarded-up areas.

Thankfully all the important stops were open – and by that I mean the food stands.

We gorged on turkey legs, creamy tartiflette and sickly sweet Darth Vader waffles to keep us going throughout the day, before packing a Mickey cookie for the train home.

We’ll just pretend the bickering on the Eurostar about who gets to keep the ride photo didn’t happen…