Sandwich Technician
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021 9 amazing lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester for less than £100
Daisy Jackson
Planning a holiday – especially during the school summer break – can be a daunting and expensive process.
Demand over the summer months can see prices on flights and accommodation rocket, especially to popular holiday destinations.
Which is why Manchester Airport has published a list of lesser-known destinations which you can still fly to this summer, with flights from less than £100.
As well as hidden gem destinations, there are a few holiday hotspots like Ibiza and Mallorca on the list.
Manchester Airport serves more than 200 destinations worldwide, and airport bosses have now dug through that whopping list to pull together some of the best deals, as well as sharing some tips for securing the best deals during peak season.
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Manchester Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Turner said: “Here at Manchester Airport we are proud to connect the North to the World – with a bigger and better route network than any UK airport outside London.
“What that means in practice is better choice and value for our passengers – so they can still get great deals even during the summer holidays when prices to lots of destinations tend to rise.
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“We fly to lots of lesser-known destinations that other airports don’t, so there are a lot of bargains to be found. But because we also offer more flights each day to some of Europe’s top destinations, that helps keep prices down too.”
Here are nine lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester Airport this summer.
Rimini
Skip the busy Amalfi coast or popular summer cities like Florence and Rome, and instead head to Rimini, on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
This beautiful destination – a brand-new addition to Manchester Airport’s network – is famed for having miles of sandy beaches, a picturesque old town, and a marina.
It’s also home to Italia in Miniatura, a model village-style attraction where you can see Italy’s most famous sites in a small scale.
- Direct flights start from £58pp return with Ryanair in August
Girona
Head further north along the Costa Brava coast from Barcelona and you’ll find Girona, a city that’s emerging as a new family favourite in Spain – and which you might recognise as a major Game of Thrones setting.
As well as the beaches and tapas that have made the European country so popular for decades, Girona boasts the pretty whitewashed town of Cadaqués, the home of Salvador Dali for more than 50 years.
You can visit his former home, now a museum, before heading back to resume your tapas crawl.
- Flights start from £75pp return, based on TUI trips in August
Beziers
The South of France always feels like it should a very luxury destination, but it is more than possible to visit parts of this beautiful part of the world for less.
You can fly from Manchester to Beziers, the gateway to France’s Languedoc coast, where you’ll be spoilt with 120 miles-worth of golden sandy beaches, port town, and fishing villages.
The towns of Agde and Sete are popular places to stay for exploring the coastline and the inland vineyards nearby.
- You can fly from £80pp return with Ryanair in early August
Zadar
Croatia is one of Europe’s top holiday spots, with a rich history, and you can drink in loads of it in Zadar.
The city’s architecture across the centre and the port shows the empires that have passed through over the years, from Romans to Venetians.
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And you’ll be well connected to the ferry routes that transport tourists over to the stunning islands of the unspoilt Dalmatian costs.
- Direct flights from Manchester to Zadar cost from £89pp return
Menorca
You already know Majorca and Ibiza, but did you know that Menorca remains the least-visited of the three big Balearic Islands?
That means that even in the height of summer, you’ve a good chance of finding quiet beaches and waterside restaurants.
If you can tear yourself away from the crystal clear waters, make sure to visit Cuitadella, a winding Medieval town with a brilliant food scene.
- Ryanair flies direct from £45pp
Faro
Faro serves as a gateway to Portugal’s hugely popular Algarve, which has much more to it than golf clubs and lively nightlife strips.
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Faro itself is a charming town with great local restaurants, but head along the coast to find tonnes of family-friendly resorts, lively towns, and beautiful dramatic coastlines.
The weather is usually pretty blissful down here, too.
- You can fly from £66pp return with Ryanair
Santander
There’s so much to discover of Spain, and one lesser-explored region singled out by Manchester Airport travel exports is Santander.
Located on the north coast and the Cantabrian Sea, this is where you’ll find charming landmarks like a 13th century cathedral, and an Old Town packed with pintxos bars.
You can also relax on the iconic El Sardinero beach, a popular surfing spot.
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AND if you hate the crushing heat of summer, this is the spot for you – it’s generally cooler than other parts of Spain at a delightful 25ºC even in the height of summer.
- Direct flights in August with Ryanair start from £75pp return
Marseille
Heading back to France again, this time to the country’s second-largest city which makes for an excellent city break.
Formerly an Ancient Greek colony, you’ll still find incredible ruins near the city’s port, surrounded by fine dining restaurants, museums and galleries.
Get out of the city and you’ll be able to explore the Calanques National Park, where stony beaches nestle into narrow bays beneath the cliffs.
- Direct flights start from just £59pp return with Ryanair
Kalamata
Yes, like the olives. But this sometimes-overlooked destination on the Greek mainland has a lot more to it than that.
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Standing on the tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, Kalamata dates back nearly 3000 years and has an Old Town, a medieval castle, and masses of Ancient Greek sites to explore.
You can really mix up a city break and a beach break here – split your time between historical sites, family-run tavernas, and the nearby two-mile-long Bouka Beach.
- EasyJet will get you there from £76pp return
To save money when booking your holiday flights this summer:
- Check prices regularly – and if you see a deal you like the look of, don’t hold off. Travellers are booking later this summer, so last-minute deals are there to be had – but don’t cut it too fine.
- If you know you love the seaside resorts of Spain, or the whitewashed villages of Greece, expand your horizons and look at parts of the country you haven’t visited before. Manchester Airport flies to dozens of destinations in these countries and if you’re willing to be flexible on where exactly you go, you might nab a better deal.
- Working parents will tend to book a calendar week or two off work during the school summer holidays and theferore they tend to want to fly at the weekend, or as close to is as possible, to maximise their time away. As such, you could save significant sums on your flights if you’re willing to travel between Tuesday and Thursday.
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Featured image: Unsplash, Photo by Jeet Sandhu on Unsplash
An award-winning vegan restaurant in Manchester has closed – and will become an Irish pub
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most celebrated restaurants has closed its doors for good, ahead of a major relaunch as an Irish pub.
The Allotment paved the way for vegan dining not just in our city, but across the UK, scooping up awards as it went.
But now the acclaimed restaurant, which stands directly opposite the magnificent Manchester Cathedral, has closed down.
In a statement shared online, The Allotment founder and CEO Anthony Sheridan announced that the restaurant will cease to exist in its current guise, as they prepare to invest in the future of the beautiful building.
Anthony has announced that in the coming months, the space will be transformed into The Sheridan Fiddle, a ‘premium Irish hospitality venue’.
Soon, visitors can expect to see ‘traditional homemade Irish food, perfectly poured Guinness, carefully selected wines, live Irish music and, most importantly, the warm welcome that has always been at the heart of this venue’.
Looking back on almost a decade of The Allotment, the statement shared to followers has also addressed its origins, writing: “Almost ten years ago, I never set out to open one of the UK’s best vegan restaurants.
“I simply wanted to help my little boy.”
Anthony set up the business when his son, Anthony Jr, was diagnosed with Chrohn’s, understanding that a plant-based diet would help him.
The statement continued: “What happened next was something I could never have imagined.
“Together, we built something truly special.
“Over the last decade, The Allotment was named Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the North West, Best Vegan Restaurant in the UK for two consecutive years, and was recognised as the 47th Best Vegan Restaurant in the World.
“But the awards were never the greatest achievement.
“The greatest achievement has been the people, our incredible team, our loyal customers, the friendships we’ve made, and the memories we’ve shared. And seeing thousands of people walk through our doors over the years.”
Anthony Jr is now living in Dubai and running his own gym, which has left Anthony to make the decision to ‘evolve’ the business.
“After a huge amount of thought, we’ve made the decision to begin a new chapter for this beautiful building,” he wrote.
“Rather than closing its doors, we’re investing in its future.”
His statement continues: “Although the concept is changing, one thing never will… Our commitment to making people feel welcome.
“This building has spent the last ten years bringing people together over great food.
“Now, we’re excited for it to spend the next ten years bringing people together in a different way.
“To every single person who has visited us, supported us, recommended us, celebrated with us or simply believed in what we were trying to create… Thank you.
“You haven’t just supported a restaurant. You’ve been part of our family’s story.
“I hope you’ll join us for the next chapter. Welcome to The Sheridan Fiddle.”
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Featured image: The Manc Group
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