P&O Cruises
Health Service Discounts and Discounts for Teachers have partnered with P&O Cruises to offer an exclusive deal to those working in education and healthcare, making their next holiday even more rewarding.
For a limited time only, eligible members can receive up to £200 in onboard credit when they book selected P&O Cruises. The free onboard credit can be spent on anything from dining and drinks to spa treatments, shopping onboard and unforgettable shore experiences.
Other great cruise deals on the platform include 5% off bookings with Ambassador Cruises.
Supporting Those Who Support Us
For many key workers, spending on holidays can feel hard to justify, especially when household budgets are tight. These deals give education and healthcare professionals more financial freedom to enjoy well-earned breaks and make memories with their families without extra stress.
Hurry, the deal ends Tuesday 14th of July!
Where to find the UK’s best food festivals
Trying new foods is an exciting part of any getaway, with 45% of holidaymakers wanting to travel to try regional dishes1, but often it feels as though there’s simply not enough time to try everything you’re looking for. Food festivals are the cure for this, offering a plethora of different foods alongside entertainment, ensuring you miss nothing.
For those looking for the best food festivals in the country, the holiday experts at holidaycottages.co.uk share their top picks, which offer everything from unique experiences to celebrity guest stars.
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival: 15-16 of August 2026
Garlic is a beloved flavour by many, but the Isle of Wight takes its love above and beyond, dedicating an entire festival to everyone’s favourite bulb. Titan the Robot and Bluey and Bingo roaming the event, making for an exciting day out for little ones. Other attractions include dog shows, Birds of Prey demonstrations, and activity tents.
The event runs across the 15th and 16th of August in Arreton Valley, with children’s tickets costing £7.50 for a day pass, or £12.50 for the weekend, and adult tickets being £16 for a day pass or £25 for the whole weekend, with senior tickets being available at a discounted rate.
The Great British Food Festival: 15-16 of August 2026
The Great British Food Festival takes place across the country, visiting different locations throughout the summer months. This August, the event lands in Yorkshire, featuring various food and drink stalls to sample, eating challenges, live music and live demonstrations.
A flexible single-day ticket or a weekend pass is priced the same, with adult tickets costing £15, children’s tickets costing £7 and a family ticket costing £35.99.
Conwy Honey Fair: 12th of September
The Conwy Honey Fair is one of the oldest food festivals in the UK. As dictated by The Royal Charter of Edward I, the festival must occur on the 13th of September each year (unless that date should occur on a Sunday), and so it has for over 700 years in the town. This year, the 13th lands on a Sunday, and so in keeping with tradition, the event will be hosted on Saturday the 12th instead.
The festival can be found on Conwy High Street and Lancaster Square between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm and is set to feature a swarm of stalls selling sweet treats, baked goods and an array of food and crafts from local small businesses.
The Scottish Wild Food Festival: 19-20 of September
Located just north of Glasgow, the Scottish Wild Food Festival has an array of food stalls, activities and long table lunches for visitors to enjoy. Throughout the two-day event, a number of workshops are available for both kids and adults to enjoy, before stepping into the event’s food market where visitors can find 18 stalls filled with everything from homemade ice cream to botanical gins.
Day tickets cost £21 for adults and £7 for children, whilst under 5s can visit for free. Weekend tickets for adults can be purchased for a discounted rate of £37.50.
Sarah Pring, Digital PR Manager at Holidaycottages.co.uk, says, “A growing number of people are choosing to travel with the aim of trying new foods. Food festivals offer a great opportunity to enjoy a day out with the family, try regional favourites and explore new locations.”
Bunk Beds, Picnics and Room for Six – The Grafton’s Family Stay Just Got Better
For families, the real luxury is space and The Grafton Hotel in Dublin has built its summer offering around exactly that. Its cleverly designed family rooms sleep up to six, with a Super King bed for parents and bunk beds that younger guests tend to claim instantly. No sofa beds, no second room, just one stylish space that actually works for families.
New for summer, the hotel is adding another reason to book with its Teddy Bear Picnic experience, designed for two adults and two children. A short stroll away in St Stephen’s Green, families can settle in with a beautifully curated picnic that turns a simple afternoon in the park into something far more memorable.
Priced at €120, each basket is generously filled with a mix of sweet and savoury treats. Think fluffy homemade scones with jam and butter, rich chocolate brownies, delicate macaroons, fresh fruit salads and creamy cheesecake, alongside cheese and crackers, seasonal salads and your choice of sandwiches or wraps. A chilled bottle of Prosecco adds a celebratory touch for grown-ups, with soft drinks included for little ones.
Set just moments from Grafton Street, the hotel places Dublin’s best family-friendly attractions within easy reach, from St Stephen’s Green to Dublinia and Phoenix Park. Back at the hotel, Bartley’s restaurant offers relaxed, easy dining that suits all ages.
Cavallino Bianco Caorle – Venezia Brings Five-Star Family Luxury to Italy’s Adriatic Coast
A new luxury resort is redefining what a family beach holiday can look like. Now open on Italy’s Adriatic coast, Cavallino Bianco Caorle – Venezia has welcomed its first guests, offering a stylish retreat where every detail has been designed with families in mind.
Set on the seafront in the charming fishing town of Caorle, the five-star resort combines contemporary design with a relaxed coastal atmosphere, proving that family holidays don’t have to mean compromising on comfort or style.
At the heart of the resort are 101 spacious family suites, all with private terraces overlooking the sea. Cleverly designed for modern family life, each suite includes separate sleeping areas for adults and children, child-friendly bathrooms and practical extras that make travelling with little ones that bit easier.
The real star, however, is the beach. Guests enjoy exclusive access to a five-hectare Blue Flag stretch of golden sand, complete with private cabanas for those looking to elevate their seaside experience. Back at the resort, four heated indoor and outdoor pools keep younger guests entertained, while parents can escape to the adults-only rooftop infinity pool for uninterrupted views across the Adriatic.
Children are at the centre of the experience, with Lino Land providing 750 square metres of imaginative play spaces, creative activities and supervised fun for babies through to teenagers. Whether it’s arts and crafts, theatre, games or adventure, there’s plenty to keep young holidaymakers happily occupied.
Meanwhile, adults can enjoy a little time to themselves in the resort’s expansive 4,000-square-metre spa, featuring saunas, steam rooms, beauty treatments and peaceful relaxation areas overlooking the sea.
Dining has been thoughtfully designed too, with dedicated family and children’s restaurants sitting alongside an adults-only dining room, allowing parents to enjoy a quieter evening while little ones are well looked after.
Blending beachfront luxury with thoughtful family-friendly touches, Cavallino Bianco Caorle – Venezia offers a fresh take on multigenerational travel. It’s a place where children can explore, parents can properly unwind, and precious family time really does take centre stage.
Cornwall Porthmeor Beach
Shun Lee, St Ives, Cornwall | Sleeps 14 – 25 minute walk to Porthmeor Beach
For travellers looking to experience one of the UK’s best beaches in style, Shun Lee offers one of the most impressive stays in St Ives. Positioned above nearby Porthminster Beach, the house has sweeping views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse. Originally built in 1881 by master mariner William John Paynter and named after his tea clipper ship, Shun Lee has become one of Cornwall’s standout group stays.
The seven-bedroom property is designed for large gatherings and multigenerational escapes, with thoughtful interiors, expansive entertaining spaces and landscaped gardens overlooking the sea. There’s also a private cinema room, spacious terraces for long summer evenings and direct access to the South West Coast Path, allowing guests to walk directly to not only Porthminster Beach, but also Porthmeor Beach and nearby Carbis Bay – three of Cornwall’s Blue Flag beaches for 2026. With multiple award-winning stretches of coastline within walking distance, the property is particularly well positioned for travellers looking to experience the very best of St Ives on foot.
Just steps from its beautiful beaches lies Tate St Ives, whose striking gallery space overlooks the sea and celebrates the town’s artistic heritage. Nearby, surf schools take advantage of what are widely considered some of the best surfing conditions in the UK, while the promenade is lined with cafés, bars and seafood restaurants that give the beach its lively, laid-back atmosphere. Porthmeor Beach Caféremains a must-visit, particularly for its seafood tapas and unbeatable sunset terrace views.
Off-Grid Meets On-Estate: Shacks Brings Wild Escapes to Weston Park
Pioneering off-grid cabin brand Shacks, based in Cheshire, has announced a new partnership with Weston Park in Staffordshire, with two hand-built cabins – Capella and Antares – set to open on the estate in August 2026.
Known for placing thoughtfully designed, solar-powered cabins in some of the UK’s most spectacular landscapes, Shacks has found its most distinctive setting yet: 1,000 acres of historic English parkland, home to a Capability Brown-designed landscape, an award-winning restaurant, and one of the country’s most celebrated stately homes.
Hidden amongst the trees within Weston’s grounds, Capella and Antares each sleep two and are built in Shacks’ signature style – warm timber interiors, king-size beds, soft linen, and floor-to-ceiling windows that pull the landscape inside. Outside, private outdoor baths sit beneath open skies, with far-reaching views across the Shropshire hills.
What sets this partnership apart is the rare combination of genuine off-grid retreat with everything Weston Park has to offer on the doorstep, or not, entirely at the guest’s pace. Wander woodland trails through ancient parkland, linger over lunch at the Granary Restaurant, or do nothing at all. The estate’s extensive events calendar means there’s always something on for those who want it, and nothing that demands it.
The cabins are dog friendly, off-grid, and intentionally simple – designed for people who want to disconnect from distraction without sacrificing comfort or beauty.