SINKING into the snug sofa in our cottage, Welsh tea in hand, I let out a satisfied sigh after a weekend of coastal walks, delicious food, and the best company.

My partner Emily, our sausage dog Forrest and I had spent the past couple of days exploring the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline, sampling local delicacies, and uncovering the charms of the village of Solva.

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We stayed in the dog-friendly Alma Cottage, one of the many luxury retreats offered by Coastal Cottages, which has more than 500 properties across Wales.

Set in a quiet no-through lane, the beautifully converted old fishing house combined traditional stone charm with modern comforts.

The spacious living room was perfect for unwinding after our adventures, with a sprawling sofa and two armchairs that were hard to get up from due to their outrageous comfort.

Upstairs, two big bedrooms offered stunning views of the coast, while the functional shower room completed the perfect cottage experience.

Plus, we were welcomed with a thoughtful touch: a dog bowl for Forrest that made us feel right at home.

On arrival, we were delighted by a Welsh hamper worth £40, filled with local treats including Welsh cakes from Tan Y Castell Bakery, Pembrokeshire black forest jam, and lemon sherbet white chocolate.

Solva itself is a picture-postcard coastal village with a fascinating history.

Formed in a “drowned valley” by a meltwater channel, the village was once a bustling port in the 1800s, with capacity for 30 vessels.

Though the industry has faded, reminders of Solva’s past remain, such as the stone lime kilns still visible at the head of the beach.

Today, the village has a relaxed, almost sleepy feel, with as many dogs as people, making it a perfect spot for Forrest to explore.

From the Cambrian Inn, where we had a hearty lunch of fish and chips washed down with Welsh beer Butty Bach, to the Print House Café, where we enjoyed a coffee, nearly every shop, pub, and restaurant welcomed Forrest with open arms.

A bracing two-and-a-half hour walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path took us to St Davids, the smallest city in the UK.

You wouldn’t know it was a city until you go round a corner and find the magnificent St Davids Cathedral, home to the shrine of St David, Wales’ patron saint.

We also visited Chapel Chocolates for some indulgent award-winning treats.

The convenient £1.60 T11 bus delivered us back to Solva in just ten minutes.

Back in the village, we stopped for a couple of London Prides at The Ship, a pub where we learned about the old dividing line that once separated sailors from their captains — still seen in the notch at the bar.

Cold-water swim

Later, a burger dinner at The Hats & Barrels, paired with Welsh Double Dragon beer, was the perfect way to round off the evening, followed by a rich raspberry cheesecake.

Solva also has a touch of class, evident in its quaint shops such as Window On Wales, a three-floor treasure trove of Welsh goods.

Art lovers should not miss the Raul Speek Gallery, located in a converted chapel, showcasing vibrant paintings by the Cuban-born artist who has called Solva home since the Nineties.

If you’re after history, a visit to the Solva Woollen Mill, just a ten-minute drive away, is a must.

It’s the oldest working woollen mill in Pembrokeshire and the only one in Wales specialising in flat woven carpets, rugs, and runners.

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The restored waterwheel is a charming attraction, with King Charles and Queen Camilla choosing the mill to create carpets for their Welsh home.

In the early mornings, when the tide is in, a cold-water swim in the bay is a great way to kick off the day.

Solva’s charm is at its peak during the crisp, quiet mornings when the village feels almost untouched.

We ended our weekend with a memorable lunch at Crug Glas Country House, a 12th-century farmhouse just a short drive from Solva.

The beautifully decorated hotel made us feel as though we had stepped back in time.

I indulged in a squid starter, followed by an extraordinary roast duck main course, all rounded off with a sticky toffee pudding that was the perfect sweet ending to our trip.

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BRITISH Airways is cancelling services from the UK’s biggest airports to two locations next year.

From late March in 2025, the airline giant is scrapping two of its major flight routes.

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Flights have flown from the UK to Bahrain for 92 years and to Kuwait for 63.

Now, just in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix, services to both these countries will be cut from one a day to none.

BA has claimed this is due to delays on receiving engine parts from Rolls-Royce.

A spokesperson for BA said: “The impact of this supply chain issue has meant we’ve been using standby aircraft from our 777 fleet to avoid cancellations.

“What’s more, equipment manufacturers and suppliers globally are struggling to meet demand, increasing the risk of further disruptions to our flying schedule.”

The airline, owned by Anglo-Spanish conglomerate IAG, said the they have been working to ensure our aircraft are available to meet the needs of the flying schedule but it’s no longer sustainable.

They added: “A more substantial course of action is now needed.”

The cancellations have been put down to to issues with the Rolls Royce-manufactured jet engines, particularly in the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

This has led to the cancellation of flights between London Gatwick and New York until 2025

Some services to Kuala Lumpur were axed shortly before they supposed to go ahead as well.

Many other routes were cut due to the delay in supply and BA have apologised to customers for the inconvenience.

They relayed that the issue would not be one that has a quick fix and are “disappointed” they had to further change their schedule.

BA added: “We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve.

“We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines. “

The global company has stated it is working closely with Rolls-Royce and reassures it’s customers that they’re in the process of finding a solution.

Rolls-Royce released a statement claiming they are aware that the supply issue is “affecting the whole aerospace industry.”

There are multiple ways to find out if BA is still flying to a certain destination, or you want to check if there have been further cancellations.

You can download the BA app which will give information about flight schedules and bookings.

This will allow you to board, board, and access information about your flights.

On the BA website you can access company updates, news, as well as current flight information.

The Sun has reached out to British Airways for a comment.

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VIRGIN Atlantic has relaunched long-haul flights to a popular British holiday resort.

The new London Heathrow to Cancun flights will launch next winter, with three weekly flights.

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From October 19, 2025, Brits will be able to travel from the UK’s biggest airport to the Mexican destination – the only direct flight from Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled the route back in 2019, so will be the first route in six years.

Other direct flights in the UK include London Gatwick to Cancun with British Airways and Birmingham to Cancun with TUI.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Offer, Virgin Atlantic, said they were “delighted” to be offering Cancun flights again for winter sun.

They added: “Cancun has an amazing nightlife and dining scene, dreamy sandy beaches, plus it’s the perfect gateway to Mayan ruins and adventure travel in the region.

“Our new route also offers increased connectivity to the region with our codseshare partner LATAM and SkyTeam partner Aeromexico. We can’t wait for more of our customers to enjoy Virgin Atlantic’s trademark fiesta and flair, on their way to Mexico.”

Andres Martinez, Director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo, said they were “looking forward to welcoming new and returning visitors from the United Kingdom” to Cancun again.

One of the most famous attractions is the Chichén Itzá one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Other Mayan ruins are worth a visit, as well as a dip in one the many cenotes, which are natural water pools.

However, most Brits will want to visit Cancun for a fly and flop holiday, with the many beaches to choose from along the Mexican coastline, many on the back of the holiday resorts.

If you want something a bit more fast paced, the Sun’s Showbiz Reporter Jack Hardwick visited the new Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun on the ‘Las Vegas’ strip of the city,

“More than half of the hotel’s 600 rooms boast breathtaking ocean views along with OTT touches such as my giant snakeskin headboard and hot tub in every room.

“The hotel even boasts a rent-a-guitar service, where a Fender can be ordered to the room free of charge.

“There is also Mexico’s legendary Coco Bongo club with everything from a breakdancing Game Of Thrones Night King to surprisingly impressive Freddie Mercury and Moulin Rouge tribute.

“Next door is the equally wild Senor Frogs, where Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee went on their first official date in the Nineties where I found conga lines and free tequila shots.

“For both the young and the young-at-heart looking for a buzzing trip away without sacrificing on home comforts, it really does tick all the boxes.”

The dry season runs from December to April with highs of 32C so is the best time to travel to Mexico, although can drop to 24C in January and February.

TUI is also launching Cardiff to Cancun flights in April 2026.

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SWEDEN’S northernmost city has been named Europe’s most underrated destination for a white Christmas.

Located in Swedish Lapland, Kiruna is a mining town that’s home to just under 20,000 people – and it’s said to be the best place for Brits to experience a white Christmas.

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Ferry operator DFDS analysed 23 years of snowfall data across a whopping 164 destinations in Europe.

The operator cross-analysed snowfall data with the least-searched destinations on Google to find the best place to see snow on Christmas Day.

Kiruna, Sweden‘s northernmost city, was crowned the winner with a 70 per cent chance of snow on December 25.

The Swedish city only had 100 Google searches per month, with only 12 per cent of Brits surveyed aware of the Swedish city.

Located in northern Sweden, Kiruna is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination from its deep forests, lakes, rivers and mountains.

The nearby Abisko National Park is ideal for hiking and experiencing the Midnight Sun in summer.

It is also a good destination to see the Northern Lights, which are often visible on winter nights – although its appearance is never guaranteed.

Other attractions include an Ice Hotel and the Esrange Space Centre, which offers insights into space research.

Additionally, Kiruna Church, one of Sweden’s largest wooden buildings, is worth a visit for its beautiful architecture.

Although the location of Kiruna Church is set to change next year when the entire city is relocated two miles south.

Kiruna sits above the largest known deposit of the rare elements, which are used to make electric car batteries and wind turbines – this is roughly 80 per cent of the European Union‘s supply.

However, after years of mining, the land has been deformed and cracks have even started to appearing in the town.

This is why the entire town is set to be shifted two miles away, with each building set to be relocated.

It is hoped that the ambitious project will be finished by 2026, with Kiruna Church set to be moved at some point next year.

Kiruna is also the traditional home of the indigenous Sámi people.

The land of the Sámi people stretches across the very north of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.

Visitors to Kiruna can learn more about the Sámi people through a range of activities like reindeer herding.

Kiruna has its own airport – Kiruna Airport.

Flights from Kiruna Airport only operate to Stockholm, which means Brits will need to change in the country’s capital to reach the arctic city.

Sun Online Travel have found return fares in January from London to Kiruna for £180.

Meanwhile, these are the six best European cities to visit in 2024.

And this “timeless” European city serves as a great double for Rome.

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A MUCH-LOVED city in Europe is home to a Caribbean-style water park with three white-sand beaches and over 20 attractions.

When most British holidaymakers visit Venice, they head to landmarks like St Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge
of Sighs.

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In addition to these historic sites, British holidaymakers might want to add Caribe Bay, a Caribbean-style water park, to their agendas.

The Italian water park has seven themed areas, 27 attractions and three beaches.

Each of the three beaches is covered with white sand, while palm trees and cabanas are dotted throughout the water park, hence the comparison to the Caribbean.

One popular attraction is Captain Spacemaker, which claims to be the highest waterslide in Europe at 42m high.

Park-goers are placed on a float before heading down the waterslide, reaching speeds of 62mph.

There are several other water rides at the theme park, including the lazy river ride Roatan, a 220m-long waterslide called Tortuga Sky and Battle Intrigo where park-goers can fire water cannons.

For younger visitors, there’s also Boopi River, Rudder, a trampoline park, a ball pit, a pirate’s mine, a water playground and a small boat ride.

Other water attractions include Jungle Jump, a space where visitors can challenge their friends with acrobatics before diving into the water.

There’s also Scary Falls, a 38m-high slide that park-goers go down in the dark.

The Italian water park has multiple outdoor pools like Shark Bay, a Wave Pool, and Pirate’s Bay, an outdoor lagoon with a child-friendly beach.

Other attractions include Bungee Jumping, a free climbing wall and a tightrope bridge 20m above the ground.

Live shows, like Pirates of Silver Cove, Swing Circus and Limbo, also take place at the water park.

There are several on-site restaurants at the water park too, including Castaway Kebab, Castaway Burger, Chiringuito Beach, La Petite Patisserie and La Petite Cuisine.

The Italian water park has been praised by visitors, with a 4/5 star rating from thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor.

One person wrote: “We had a great time from start to finish at this very unique water park.

“The Caribbean-style white sand and palm trees are really well done.”

Another person added: “The park is very big and the sand is incredible”.

A third person wrote: “The park is very big and the sand is incredible”.

Tickets cost €39 (£32) for adults and €32 (£27) for kids, with children under one metre going free.

Located in Venice, Brits can fly to Venice Airport to reach the Italian water park.

A number of UK airports operate direct flights to Venice, with one-way fares starting from £20 per person in 2025.

Flights between the UK and Venice take a little over two hours.

The Italian water park is closed for the winter season and will reopen for the summer season in 2025.

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.

And here are some other water parks in the UK you should visit, including a huge new £250million attraction opening in 2025.

There are also plenty of water parks in Europe, including Livu Akvapark in Latvia and Energylandia in Poland.

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