A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the £1.50 item that is a game-changer when sitting next to smelly passengers.

Enduring a long-haul flight next to a smelly traveller is a nightmare for any passenger.

1

Susannah Carr, a flight attendant for a major US airline, advises wearing a mask if you find yourself in that unfortunate situation.

She said: “Throw one of those disposable masks in your bag.

“Even if you’re not afraid of germs, that can be a barrier to one of those smells.”

Travellers can purchase disposable masks for just £1.50 from Nursecall Matts.

Alternatively, Boots is offering a pack of five for £2.99, reduced from its original price of £5.99.

The seasoned flight attendant also suggested that applying a dab of Vicks VapoRub beneath your nose could be another effective solution.

Susannah claimed that this method is a common practice among crew members when they are assigned to collect rubbish.

She added that flight attendants regularly use essential oils such as peppermint to help shield themselves from odours in the cabin.

Vicks Vaporub can be bought on Amazon for just under £5.

Travellers who would prefer to use essential oils can purchase the items from Superdrug starting at just £4.99.

It comes after a savvy flight attendant revealed the £1.20 item she always takes with her whenever she boards a plane.

TikTok star Destanie Armstrong has shared the clever way she avoids having to eat unappetising plane food by packing her own quick and easy snack which can be made onboard almost all planes.

The Philadelphia-based flight attendant has racked up 70,000 followers online for her tips and tricks on how to best prepare for a flight.

With viewers being left amazed at her latest suggestion on how to keep your taste buds happy even when you’re up in the air.

The 25-year-old air stewardess says she would never board a plane hungry just in case you end up fancying food during the long haul journey.

But on the rare occasion where she forgets to fuel up her body or even on extra long flights, Destanie says she will always pack a handy snack.

She told her TikTok followers: “You can’t depend on these flights to have food and even if they do, a lot of the times the options aren’t food.”

The seasoned flyer said she always packs two pots of noodles in her hand luggage.

Almost all planes have hot water onboard, according to Destanie, meaning it is a great option to have.

It is even more useful if you either don’t want to pay the high price for snacks or don’t feel like eating any of the food options available.

Most noodle pots cost around £1 meaning they are a great and cheap option.

Family favourite brand Batchelors Super Noodles can be found in supermarkets for only £1 and come in a whole variety of flavours.

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.

3

3

Advertisement

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.

3

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.

4

4

Advertisement

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”.

4

Advertisement

4

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.

2

2

Advertisement

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…

A PIRATES of the Caribbean theme park could be set to open on a very stunning tropical island.

The island of Saint Vincent has revealed the plans, after it was used as as filming location for the films.

4

4

Advertisement

Since 2003, the Pirates of the Caribbean films have become family favourites, with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley’s adventures on the high seas spanning five movies.

Carlos James, minister for tourism for the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has promised the park will provide a huge boost to the popularity of the island nation.

He told Planet Attractions: “We’re looking at scouting lands closest to the beach to accommodate a state-of-the-art theme park, which will include a restaurant, pool, and more.

“This year, we will also explore and conceptualise designs for a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed park at Wallilabou.

“It is important that we look at how we can further develop our tourism product offering.

“We have to ensure that we have all of the right services and sites that meet quality standards to ensure that people who come to the destination can really see the true benefit of our product.”

The plans are set to be put in place in 2025, although not a lot is known about what the park would actually feature, in terms of rides and attractions.

However, it will offer a new way for fans of the films to get a taste of the pirates’ lives, with other attractions already showing off the swashbuckling side of Saint Vincent.

One such tour invites visitors to head to the actual set of the popular movie.

On the tour, they can “see an abundance of props and costumes that remain onsite” while also dressing up to look like a real pirate.

Other tour stops include Fort Charlotte, the fishing village of Layou, Barrouallie, Wallilabou Recreational Park, and Buccama Beach.

The tour is described by Viator as “a must-do for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies”.

However, there’s plenty to do on Saint Vincent for people who haven’t heard of Jack Sparrow as well.

In addition to its many stunning beaches, the island has sights like the Dark View Waterfalls – two spectacular falls, one above the other, that tumble down sheer cliff faces and plunge into natural pools.

4

Sea kayaking, volcano hiking and nature trails are also available for those looking for adventure.

Virgin Atlantic has flights from the UK to the island, taking around 11 hours with a stop in Barbados.

They also offer holiday packages, with return flights and seven nights from £,1,078pp.

It’s not the only Caribbean island with a huge theme park.

Perfect Day at CoCo Cay, a Bahamas island owned by Royal Caribbean, has its own theme park and water attraction on it.

Meanwhile, these eight real life Disney locations can be found in the UK.

And these are the Indiana Jones filming locations you can visit.

4