A HUGE new waterfront development is set to transform a Brit-loved winter sun hotspot.

Ras El Hekma is a new waterfront megaproject being built in Egypt, which will be twice the size of Barcelona.

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Ras El Hekma will be on the North Coast of Egypt between Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh.

It will also be just a few hours from Cairo, with plans to have both flights and cruise ships from Europe.

This means a new international airport will be built, along with a cruise terminal and high speed rail links.

Brits can currently fly to Cairo in just under five hours, with flights to the the development expected to be slightly shorter.

Resorts expected to be built there include Accor – who own Ibis and Novotel – and Ennismore.

The luxury golf courses will be created by Valderrama, one of the most famous golf resorts in the world.

The main waterfront area will be the tourist resort with a main downtown that has beach resorts, public beaches and “coastal communities”.

Another district will promote “local culture”.

Images also show a cable car network as well as restaurants right on the beach.

Some of the first stages will be complete by next year, such as some of the beach apartments, amusement facilities and the seafront with construction starting next month.

The project is being developed by Abu Dhabi based Modon Holding as well as other UAE and Egyptian developers including ADQ subsidiary Ras El Hekma Urban Development Project Company.

As much as $110billion (£84billion) investment is expected by 2045.

His Excellency Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of Modon Holding, said, “Ras El Hekma is destined to become a regional crown jewel in a country already famed for its rich and diverse attractions.

“Modon Holding is proud to bring this 170-million-square-metre
visionary megaproject to life, leveraging our expertise and innovative approach.

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“With our partners, we are poised to transform Ras El Hekma into a dynamic economic powerhouse and a global model for urban development.”

Another £16.3billion beachfront attraction is set to open in Egypt as well.

The new SouthMED project is to become a “global destination on the southern Mediterranean”.

As well as 2,000 hotel rooms, there will also be an international marina and 8km beach.

Five new water attractions opening in the UK

1. Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
2. Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
3. Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
4. The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
5. The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.

In Greece, a £6.8billion Dubai-like attraction is set to open with the seaside resort home to five-star hotels and marina.

And a £4.3billion beachfront attraction in Qatar is to “rival Disney” in size.

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CHRISTMAS is getting closer and some of the UK’s biggest attractions are dusting off their baubles and hanging up the festive lights in preparation.

If you fancy treating the kids to some extra fun in the run up to Christmas, theme parks across the country will soon start running festive entertainment alongside their most popular rides.

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Legoland

Twinkling lights and a giant Duplo Christmas tree are set to transform Legoland Windsor later this year.

From November 23, 2024, guests will enjoy Father Christmas’s Magical Sleigh as it travels from Heartlake City to Pirate Shores.

After making its debut in 2022, Ollie’s Christmas Chaos show is back for another year and it promises the same level of mischief.

A selection of 25 rides will also be open to the public, and there will also be an opportunity to visit the big man himself.

Christmas tickets cost £34pp as well as an additional £25 per child to see Father Christmas inside Santa’s Grotto.

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Alton Towers

On selected dates from November 29 until January 5, 2025, Alton Towers will also be on the receiving end of some festive magic.

The theme park’s Magical Days Out have returned for another year, and they’re set to feature a new live show called Santa’s Toy Workshop.

Park-goers will watch as a team of hard-working elves prepares for Christmas Day, with Santa even making an appearance.

Also new for 2024 is the Reindeer Games, where visitors to Alton Towers must help find a missing reindeer.

Tickets to the Magical Days Out start from £18 per person and include entry to CBeebies Land and Mutiny Bay.

Santa Sleepovers are also back for another year, with the festive staycation including a visit to Santa’s grotto, Christmas activities and entertainment, a festive meal and an overnight stay.

The stay also includes complimentary breakfast, entry to the Caribbean-themed waterpark and crazy golf.

Two new pantomime shows have been added for 2024, including a Jack and the Beanstalk Panto and a festive courtyard show featuring Santa.

The Christmas-themed staycations are available from £90pp this November and December.

During the Santa’s Sleepover days, not all of the standard theme park rides are available, but there are plenty of other activities to keep the little ones busy.

For instance, make sure to schedule time for the included visit to Santa’s Grotto, where the kids will be able to speak to the big man himself.

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Drayton Manor Park

On selected dates from November 23 until December 31, Drayton Manor will also play host to a range of festive attractions.

Christmas at Drayton Manor will feature decorations, Santa’s grotto and access to 25 family-friendly rides and attractions in Thomas Land too.

In Thomas Land, a Festive Light Train, which is new for 2024, will take passengers on a journey where they’ll enjoy a magical Christmas tale with Sir Topham Hatt.

The journey will end at Rusty and Dusty’s Hot Chocolate Factory, which is also new for 2024.

Park-goers will learn the secrets behind the art of hot chocolate making as they warm their little hands on a cup of sweet cocoa topped with marshmallows – other treats are also set to await.

Santa’s Grotto experience will return for another year where children will be provided with entertainment as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas who will give them a gift.

An accessible Christmas Grotto that’s been specially designed for kids who need more time or a calmer setting will also feature in this year’s line-up.

Park entry starts from £19pp, with tickets that include festive additions like a visit to Santa’s Grotto, starting from £32pp.

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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

The Winter‘s Tail is back for another year and, from November 23 to December 31, guests can visit Father Christmas and be given access to a top-secret toy workshop.

A new Christmas village has been installed for 2024 complete with a cosy grotto where guests can meet Father Christmas.

Park-goers can also explore the Enchanted Hollow where Santa’s Elves have set up their Toy Workshops in the underground town.

Guests can also visit selected theme park rides, and a zoo with its very own reindeer.

Tickets for the Winter’s Tail event start from £32pp.

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Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World

On selected dates from December 6 until December 23, Paultons Park will also be getting into the festive spirit.

The park will be filled with magical illuminations, and a selection of rides and attractions will be open for the festive period too.

Guests will get the opportunity to meet their favourite Christmas characters like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer and Billy and Belinda Elves.

Theatre shows have also returned for another year, with Santa’s Christmas Wish Show set to feature singing, dancing, special effects and Christmas characters.

Christmas tickets cost £38.75 each for those over 1m tall.

Tickets to LaplandUK went on sale earlier this year – and they may already be sold out.

And a much-loved Christmas steam train is set to make a return to the UK this year where passengers can meet Santa.

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A FAMILY in the UK who have been on 56 holidays in their caravan have shared their best budget-friendly staycation tips.

Known as The Caravanning Mummy, travel expert, and mum-of-two, Rachel shares travel tips and destination guides on Instagram, including how to make breaks budget-friendly while keeping the kids entertained.

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Rachel purchased her caravan back in 2019, with her family spending the school holidays and weekends exploring the UK in their Bailey Of Bristol Phoenix 650 caravan.

The family-of-four have been on 56 caravan holidays over the last five years, so it’s safe to say Rachel has found the best ways to keep costs down without compromising on the fun.

Rachel encouraged holidaymakers to book a Certified Location with their caravan or motorhome.

Certified locations (CL sites) are small, privately-owned campsites for caravans and motorhomes that are exclusive to members of The Caravan and Motorhome Club.

She told Sun Online Travel: “I would say CL sites are probably around £20 per night for a pitch, which is obviously pretty good. It means you’re looking at around £40 for a weekend pitch.

“The Caravan and Motorhome Club sites are great for beginners because they have all the key facilities and you know what you’re going to get.

“They’re about half the price of a big site but you do get less facilities, so that is something to consider.”

To keep the family entertained while keeping costs low, Rachel recommended making the most of supermarket loyalty schemes.

She added: “We use Tesco vouchers massively when we’re going away because it almost halves the cost of entry into top-rated attractions.

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers can be spent at theme parks like Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers.

Entry tickets to places like Cadbury World, Warwick Castle, the Eden Project, the Black Country Living Museum, Conkers, Madame Tussauds and various Sea Life Centres can also be bought using Clubcard vouchers.

Children aged between five and 15 can also apply for a Blue Peter badge, which also provides free entry to a range of UK attractions.

The Caravanning Mummy also recommended purchasing a membership to the National Trust.

She added: “The other tip I always recommend is getting a membership with the National Trust.

“While it might seem a bit random for a caravan holiday, it means you have entry to a nice stately home, or an indoor attraction, which is great for rainy days.

“These places often have large grounds so kids can have a run around too, and they’re often equipped with a cafe so you can have tea and cake.

“A lot of the places have ponds with ducks, so we always have some porridge oats in our pockets so the kids can feed the ducks.”

Later this month, Rachel will be sharing more caravanning tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Earlier this month, Rachel revealed her favourite place for a UK break in her caravan, with a quintessential seaside town bagging the top spot.

Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.

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A LITTLE Greek island has rejected a huge tourism expansion – as locals want it to stay underdeveloped.

The island of Skyros is unlikely to be known by most Brits, being a much smaller holiday destination.

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But new proposals recently sought to include new marinas and cruise ship docks, as well as more hotels.

However, the island’s mayor Kyriakos Antonopoulos confirmed that the local council had rejected the major plans.

He said, according to local media: “We’d rather stay ‘undeveloped’ than lose what makes Skyros unique.”

The largest of the Sporades Islands, just 3,000 people live on the island.

The majority of tourists who visit are Greek, so don’t expect to see many other Brits around.

It also plays a part in two of the famous Greek tales – not only did Theseus (who killed the minotaur) die on Skyros, but it was also where Achilles is said to have departed from to go to Troy.

The capital town of Chora is where most of the cafes and restaurants are, with popular local dishes including pasta with lobster.

The best souvenir to take home? One of the many ceramics, with the island known in Greece for their pottery.

It is also home to one of the rarest horse breeds in the world, the Skyrian horses.

You won’t find them in the wild, but tourists can visit Mouries Farm to see them.

Otherwise the island has two main seaside resorts – Molos and Magazia.

Molos beach is one of the most popular, with a huge stretch of sand and clear waters for swimming in.

It has a number of beach bars as well as umbrellas and loungers available to rent.

While it gets busy in the summer, some tourists have said they had the beach “practically to themselves” on TripAdvisor even in June.

There is also Agalipa beach with pink rocks and soft sand, although you can only get there by 30 minute hike or boat.

If you want to find some of the secret sea caves with bright blue waters such as Diatripti or Pentekali cave, you will have to hop on a boat.

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Don’t expect huge resort chains on the island, but instead there are locally-run hotels and B&Bs.

One of the most popular is the four-star Skiros Palace, right by the beach, or Ammos Hotel, also four stars with just 21 rooms.

The best way to get to Skyros is to fly, with flights from Athens taking around 40 minutes.

Otherwise there are also ferries, which depart from Evia island and take around an hour and a half.

Despite tourists overlooking Evia, it is the second biggest island of Greece – here’s why you should visit.

We’ve found some other quieter islands in Greece to explore next summer too.

Karpathos has been named one of the most underrated places to visit by Tome Out, raving about the “near-deserted beaches home to monk seals”.

If you really want to do the more popular islands, here is how to do Mykonos and Santorini in one holiday.

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HOPES for holiday flights from a seaside town airport in the UK have been dashed.

Blackpool Airport is currently used for flight training as well as business and medical flights.

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Just 39,000 flights operated from the airport last year.

But a huge new renovation project led to hopes that commercial flights abroad for passengers could be launched.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said they would “absolutely look if there is an appetite for commercial flights from Blackpool Airport and there is the demand there”.

However, the airport’s managing director Steve Peters has said this was very unlikely.

He said: “The brutal reality of airport economics doesn’t stack up for Blackpool in terms of the return of large-scale commercial operations.”

He added that their main goal was make the future of the airport secure, after nearly permanently closing just a few years ago.

The airport once had commercial flights – Jet2 operated from Blackpool Airport in 2012 with flights to Lanzarote and Ibiza.

However, the passenger terminal was demolished in 2016 with the Jet2 boss ruling out a return.

The current new upgrades include new admin and security building with an “enhanced arrivals and departures” area.

New security check points would also be introduced.

Mr Peters added: “This new facility will allow us to grow these executive flights by numbers of movements and increased aircraft size by offering more space as well as improved security.

“While a new building will provide a modern and welcoming environment that is more suitable as a first impression for departing or arriving visitors.”

Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) Mark Smith also said: “We’re working hard to make sure that we can support an airport that is commercially successful and a leading transport hub, and one that drives the growth of our Enterprise Zone.”

Brits wanting to travel abroad from Blackpool will need to travel to Liverpool Airport, round 30 miles away.

It comes after new images were revealed of a £300million attraction hoping to open in Blackpool.

First announced in 2021, the plans include two small theme parks, with a 127,000sqft flying theatre, ides, laser tag and arcades.

What is it like to visit Blackpool?

Mum Catherine Lofthouse revealed why a seaside visit to Blackpool is the best for families.

“Whether you love a back-to-basics bucket-and-spade beach break, want a thrill a minute at one of the UK’s oldest theme parks or fancy a night on the tiles, there’s everything you need at Blackpool.

“Everywhere I look, there’s building taking place and existing attractions being spruced up.

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“There’s been investment along the seafront, with Merlin, the company behind Alton Towers and Legoland, recently opening its eighth attraction in the town with the arrival of the Gruffalo Clubhouse for little ones.

“I’m hard-pressed to think of another UK seaside resort that has quite such a breadth of attractions for staycationers young and old.

Setting off home loaded with seaside goodies and sandy buckets, I think we had both fallen a little bit in love with this national treasure of a town.”

The complex, on the Golden Mile, will also have restaurants and bars along with an Artisan Food Hall.

New hotels and tram lines are also part of the seaside town’s renovation.

And the current Pleasure Beach theme park will open a new third hotel as well, connected to the casino.

Blackpool is even home to the UK’s largest indoor waterpark.

Sandcastle Waterpark, right by the beach, has the longest indoor water rollercoaster in the UK along with 17 other rides and slides.

Want to stay at Blackpool? We’ve found a hotel with rooms from £18 which makes it the UK’s cheapest hotel.

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