A HUGE £200m water park with a 500-room hotel and bowling alley has moved one step closer to opening in the UK.

Great Wolf Resorts (GWR), which has sites in the US and Canada, is now prepping to open Great Wolf Lodge in Chesterton, near Bicester.

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After planning was initially approved in 2021, Europe’s first taste of the monster resort is now even closer to opening.

“Some infrastructure improvements” have recently been made, GWR said, pushing the development further.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The potential of bringing a Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort to families in the UK is exciting, and we’re exploring the best possible ways to bring our beloved family entertainment brand to this market.

“We recently completed some infrastructure improvements to the Chesterton site, and we continue to explore the potential for additional resorts within the UK to reach more families and provide our strongest entry into the market.”

An exact opening date has not been given.

The resort will bring in a £200m investment for the area as well as creating 600 jobs.

It will be a 498-room hotel with themed rooms, featuring an indoor water park with twisty slides and a variety of pools.

And a second resort is hoping to open in Basingstoke.

While official ticket prices haven’t been revealed, day passes would be available for anyone wanting to visit the indoor waterpark and restaurants, along with discounts for locals.

The 45-acre attraction will also have miniature golf courses.

Guests will also be able to book overnight stays at the resort too, similar to Butlin’s and Center Parcs.

A one-night stay for a family of four at a Great Wolf Resort in the US starts from $199 (£157) a night.

Basingstoke councillor John Izett said: “A Great Wolf indoor water park resort in Basingstoke would bring some £275 million of investment, many new visitors to our borough, many good job opportunities and a material and long term for the local economy.

“It would put us on the map as a UK visitor destination, and, I would expect, attract the best, most exciting leisure operators for the new leisure park. 

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Omni La Costa

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa provides a perfect getaway for golf lovers, spa enthusiasts, families, couples and anyone wanting to enjoy stunning beaches, perfect weather and luxurious accommodations. Located just 2 hours from Los Angeles in the secluded charming Carlsbad, the resort houses more than 600 guest rooms, suites and villas.  Guests can enjoy eight swimming pools, two 18-hole championship golf courses, a Kidtopia kids’ club, a huge fitness center, six food venues, an exceptional spa and 17 tennis courts. The resort just completed a multi-million dollar renovation taking its signature appeal to new heights. This highly-anticipated refresh not only updates the resort’s aesthetics but also reimagines the overall guest experience to cater to modern travelers while maintaining the charm that has made it a classic for decades.

Modernized Guest Rooms and Villas

The resort’s guest rooms and villas have been completely redesigned to reflect a modern yet timeless elegance. Drawing inspiration from Southern California’s natural beauty, the updated interiors feature a soft, coastal color palette, with light blues, greens, and neutral tones evoking the nearby Pacific Ocean and surrounding landscapes.

Accommodations have been designed to provide maximum comfort and relaxation, with plush bedding, spacious bathrooms, and high-end amenities that cater to today’s tech-savvy traveler. In keeping with Omni La Costa’s reputation for luxury, the villas also offer private patios or balconies with views of the resort’s lush gardens, golf courses, and scenic rolling hills.

Omni La Costa

Award Winning Spa Expanded and Enhanced

La Costa was the first resort in the country to offer a full spa service and now the renamed Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is world-renowned for its stunning state of the art spa and amenities. Guests can easily spend an entire day at the beautiful spa enjoying the healthy al fresco restaurant, lounging in the relaxation room by the fire; getting pampered at the nail and hair salon or with massages, facials and body treatments; destressing in the huge Jacuzzi and sauna; hanging out under the Roman waterfall; walking barefoot on the reflexology path and learning about fragrance at the free aromatherapy classes.

As part of the recent refresh, the spa has been expanded and upgraded to offer an even more indulgent experience. The newly renovated spa features additional treatment rooms, updated relaxation areas, and a fresh, contemporary design that enhances the serene ambiance. Guests can enjoy a range of treatments, from traditional massages to cutting-edge wellness therapies, all while surrounded by the calming natural beauty of the resort’s gardens. The spa’s renowned vitality pools, private cabanas, and tranquil courtyards remain a key part of the experience, but with the addition of new wellness-focused amenities such as infrared saunas and hydrotherapy stations.

Championship Golf Redesign

Home to two championship courses—the Legends Course and the Champions Course—the resort has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, including PGA Tour events. As part of the resort’s refresh, these iconic golf courses have undergone a substantial redesign aimed at preserving their historical significance while introducing modern enhancements that meet the expectations of today’s golf enthusiasts.

The courses, originally designed by renowned architects Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, have been updated to enhance playability and sustainability. The new course layouts feature improved greens, better water management systems, and upgraded turf that aligns with eco-friendly practices, ensuring a top-tier golfing experience that harmonizes with the surrounding Southern California landscape. The resort has also integrated state-of-the-art practice facilities, including an expanded driving range and short game areas, allowing golfers of all levels to perfect their swing before hitting the course.

For fitness minded guests, there are also 17 clay and hard tennis courts, the adult Edge pool for relaxation or laps and a wide range of classes through their fitness camp and Athletic Club.

Kids will love the two 100-foot waterslides at the Splash Landing pools, the sandy beach pool, Kidtopia kids’ club, outdoor evening movies by the pool, s’mores and a cool game lounge.

Foodies can enjoy the huge portions at Bob’s Steak & Chop House, offering dinner dishes including onion rings, crab cakes, salads, ribeyes, filets, pork chops, lamb and a variety of seafood.

For all day dining, Vue provides pretty al fresco dining with views of the rolling green hills and golf courses. Breakfast and brunch highlights include daily variations on Benedicts and brunches; breakfast burrito bowls, French toast and chilaquiles.

My favorite part of the resort is the gorgeous Spanish Colonial style courtyard where kids can play, adults can lounge and savor a cappuccino and couples can stroll under stars and moonlight around beautifully lit fountains. The resort also updated their Coastal Events Center to accommodate a variety of events in the 100,000-square-foot space.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad. For reservations, visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/san-diego-la-costa  or call 760.438.9111.

FORGET seat reservations and luggage fees – passengers are now being stung by ‘bundled fees’.

Most holidaymakers are aware of the extra costs that come with booking flights, especially with budget airlines.

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This can be both good and bad – it can mean extremely cheap flights, with the lowest on offer being with Ryanair for £14.99 between the UK and Europe.

But it also means your cheap tickets can become more than double the price if you want a certain seat and checked luggage.

And airlines are now going one further by offering ‘bundles’ of these extra perks – but may not be saving you money.

Airline consultant John Strickland told the Telegraph: “One of the current trends is ‘bundling’.

“[This is where] where airlines package together different perks – seat choice, extra baggage, speedy check-in – for a single price.”

This makes it easier to add on everything you might want to include, but might come at a price.

A previous study found that Ryanair passengers has as many a 32 different prices for a flight, depending on what extra perks were being added.

Along with seats, baggage and check in, it can also include car hire, travel insurance and airport fast track.

For example, Ryanair offer five ‘fare bundle options’.

This includes the cheapest Basic Fare, along with Regular Fare, Fare Plus and Family Plus, to Flexi Plus.

Wizz Air are similar, with their cheapest Base Fare, going up to Wizz Go, Wizz Plus and Wizz Smart.

Some airlines are even offering carbon offsetting or charity donations at the check out.

However, unless you want all of the bundle inclusions, this is unlikely to save you money.

The cheapest Ryanair luggage fees are £6, while seats are as little as £4.50.

Bundles can easily be double this, as they include extras like Priority Boarding.

According to NerdWallet, the best way to avoid this is to do a direct side-by-side comparison, rather than assume it is saving you money.

And if opting for a bundle, check the difference between the top option and middle option.

This is because of a bias called “compromise effect” which sees consumers often go for the middle option, rather than cheapest or most expensive.

Some airlines have introduced new bundles too.

American Spirit Airlines introduced its Go Big package this summer, which includes priority check in, bigger seats, a checked and carry on bag, as well as snacks, drinks and WiFi.

Another study found that travellers are getting angrier, and hidden fees could be to blame.

Beth Walter, a business communication professor from Carnegie Mellon University, told the Seattle Times: “A big factor in consumers losing their tempers is the feeling that they are getting nickel and dimed at every turn.

“No one likes hidden fees, and if they pop up during trips they can easily trigger the temper of a stressed-out, exhausted traveller who has been preparing for their summer vacation since last year and is expecting that everything goes according to plan.”

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