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    We’ll stop at nothing to end small boat crisis, Nigel Farage says – as Reform unveils £2bn mass deportation blitz

    We’ll stop at nothing to end small boat crisis, Nigel Farage says – as Reform unveils £2bn mass deportation blitz

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    Trump quietly slaps hundreds of UK products with tariffs up to 25% – from shampoo to washing machines

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    Record number of jobless young women pushes unemployment numbers for under-25s to almost a million

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    White working-class kids are suffering ‘particularly poor’ results at school, damning report warns

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        Horrifying 6,000-year-old ‘victory graves’ where warriors tortured & mutilated enemies during war celebrations

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        Meet little-known 6ft4in English golfer Harry Hall, who is on brink of shock Ryder Cup qualification

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        Piers Morgan releases statement about Jake Paul and ‘staged’ career after boxer hires lawyer to fight ‘fix’ claims

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        We’ll stop at nothing to end small boat crisis, Nigel Farage says – as Reform unveils £2bn mass deportation blitz

        We’ll stop at nothing to end small boat crisis, Nigel Farage says – as Reform unveils £2bn mass deportation blitz

        Trump quietly slaps hundreds of UK products with tariffs up to 25% – from shampoo to washing machines

        Trump quietly slaps hundreds of UK products with tariffs up to 25% – from shampoo to washing machines

        Record number of jobless young women pushes unemployment numbers for under-25s to almost a million

        Record number of jobless young women pushes unemployment numbers for under-25s to almost a million

        White working-class kids are suffering ‘particularly poor’ results at school, damning report warns

        White working-class kids are suffering ‘particularly poor’ results at school, damning report warns

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          Noel Clarke loses libel case against Guardian

          Noel Clarke loses libel case against Guardian

          Wired says ‘AI-written’ story did not have ‘proper fact-check process’

          Wired says ‘AI-written’ story did not have ‘proper fact-check process’

          Wired and Business Insider remove ‘AI-written’ freelance articles

          GB News to broadcast nightly from US in ‘huge moment’ for channel

          GB News to broadcast nightly from US in ‘huge moment’ for channel

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            Horrifying 6,000-year-old ‘victory graves’ where warriors tortured & mutilated enemies during war celebrations

            Horrifying 6,000-year-old ‘victory graves’ where warriors tortured & mutilated enemies during war celebrations

            New 125 million year-old dinosaur species discovered on the Isle of Wight with unusual feature to attract partners

            New 125 million year-old dinosaur species discovered on the Isle of Wight with unusual feature to attract partners

            Bright ORANGE shark with white eyes spotted for the ‘first time ever’ after being reeled in by fisherman

            Bright ORANGE shark with white eyes spotted for the ‘first time ever’ after being reeled in by fisherman

            Terrifying plague of ‘zombie squirrels’ erupts as critters covered in oozing pus-filled sores are seen swarming gardens

            Terrifying plague of ‘zombie squirrels’ erupts as critters covered in oozing pus-filled sores are seen swarming gardens

            Future humans ‘will be hairless & lose FOUR other body parts’ thanks to modern lifestyles

            Future humans ‘will be hairless & lose FOUR other body parts’ thanks to modern lifestyles

            Did scientists find an ancient alien HELMET on Mars? Mysterious object is discovered by Nasa

            Did scientists find an ancient alien HELMET on Mars? Mysterious object is discovered by Nasa

          • Health
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            We’ve probably already been discovered by aliens, but they have some pretty good reasons to hide.

            Almost everyone is said to benefit from a scientifically supported method for improving sleep.

            2,500-year-old rock engravings were found near Mosul, Iraq.

            Is the soul of a person eternal? the findings of scientists

            With its most recent move, is General Electric abandoning wind power?

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            Tyson Fury and wife Paris sell £800k seaside property for knockdown price… but still make massive profit

            Tyson Fury and wife Paris sell £800k seaside property for knockdown price… but still make massive profit

            Meet little-known 6ft4in English golfer Harry Hall, who is on brink of shock Ryder Cup qualification

            Meet little-known 6ft4in English golfer Harry Hall, who is on brink of shock Ryder Cup qualification

            Conor McGregor breaks silence on UFC ‘REMOVAL’ to confirm major career decision as Dana White makes x-rated statement

            Conor McGregor breaks silence on UFC ‘REMOVAL’ to confirm major career decision as Dana White makes x-rated statement

            Piers Morgan releases statement about Jake Paul and ‘staged’ career after boxer hires lawyer to fight ‘fix’ claims

            Piers Morgan releases statement about Jake Paul and ‘staged’ career after boxer hires lawyer to fight ‘fix’ claims

            Tiger Woods’ son Charlie takes huge step towards sealing Junior Ryder Cup spot on Team USA

            Tiger Woods’ son Charlie takes huge step towards sealing Junior Ryder Cup spot on Team USA

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            How to Choose the Ideal Baby Gift Set for Boys & Girls – A BabyWondersUK Guide

            How to Choose the Ideal Baby Gift Set for Boys & Girls – A BabyWondersUK Guide

            A Site for Situated Practices: Mezzanine

            Exhibition: Substance & Recoding: The Narrative of Contemporary Objects in the Semantic Turn

            Discover Amsterdam’s beauty from the water

            An adventure on the canals of Amsterdam

            An adventure on the canals of Amsterdam

            Eromosele Gideon Eigbiremolen Unveils Sustainable Vision for SS24 with Burvain's Latest Collection.

            Eromosele Gideon Eigbiremolen Unveils Sustainable Vision for SS24 with Burvain’s Latest Collection.

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          Florida: the cheap way to stay longer in this top winter sun destination

          by Anderson
          November 30, 2023
          in Motoring
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          “Have a wonderful day ma’am,” the Siesta Beach car parking attendant says, beaming. At first, I am unnerved by such unabashed joy. But then, I think, working at one of Florida’s white-sand beaches must make smiling easy.

          It’s mid-November and I am on the last leg of a motor home tour around the “Sunshine State”. The temperature is 29°C, and my windows are down. Festive lights line the streets of Palmetto, one of Florida’s many beachside towns.

          All this, on a trip that works out at less than £100 day for accommodation, domestic travel and flights.

          In the Bahamas, just 50 miles from Florida’s east coast, it would cost upwards of £1,000 for a week’s holiday during peak season. Such prices make an extended stint of sub-tropical winter sun unattainable for many British holidaymakers.

          Siesta Key beach makes up a fraction of Florida's miles of coast (Photo: Pola Damonte/Getty Images)
          Siesta Key beach makes up a fraction of Florida’s miles of coast (Photo: Pola Damonte/Getty Images)

          Yet, with household energy bills set to go up in January, Saga, a tour company focused on the over-fifties, has (like several more travel providers) seen an uptick in demand for its longer-stay winter breaks.

          I am sampling a section of its cost-effective solution for winter heat: a 29-day motor home tour of Florida. The trip will be offered again next November.

          It’s not just older travellers tapping into this trend. Recent research by Abta has found that 18-24 year-olds are twice as likely as the average traveller to want to go on a motor home holiday. Florida is the ideal place to try one out.

          The state takes motor homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) seriously. Its specialist RV camping sites are a reasonably priced alternative to hotels in winter, when room rates are at their peak, averaging £200 a night.

          Saga’s month-long touring package of Florida’s Gulf coast and Panhandle costs £2,642pp, including flights and van rental. Compare this with the average cost of a one-week holiday in Florida, which is £2,751pp, based on figures from travel website Budget Your Trip.

          At the various RV parks I visit, from Orlando to Crystal River, I meet US tourists who have lived at these venues for months, even years. Halloween decorations are strung from hi-tech trailer trucks; others are lit up with neon palm trees. In Crystal River’s afternoon heat, retirees and digital nomads gather around the pool. At night, I relax in the site’s hot tub.

          The mangroves of Banana River (Photo: Visit Florida)
          The mangroves of Banana River (Photo: Visit Florida)

          My journey starts in Orlando, a city better known for its theme parks (it has 10, including Disney’s) than its camping scene. At Orlando’s Thousand Trails RV campground, it is hard to miss the nightly Walt Disney World Resort fireworks show. The crackles travel for miles.

          But I am not here for the rides and character meet-and-greets. Instead, I head to Cocoa Beach on Florida’s “Space Coast” near Cape Canaveral.

          #color-context-related-article-2785617 {–inews-color-primary: #46A3E0;–inews-color-secondary: #EBF5FC;–inews-color-tertiary: #46A3E0;}

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          I rent a kayak for a sunset paddle through the Banana River Aquatic Preserve. As I glide through the mangroves, a dolphin makes its way towards me. It darts in and out of the water while a gold sparkle spreads across the river. Bottlenose dolphins are common here: it’s estimated that around 1,000 live in the wider Indian River estuary.

          It is one of several dolphins I encounter while travelling through the state. On Siesta beach near Sarasota one afternoon, a loud crash wakes me from a doze. A few metres from the shore, I see a dolphin’s tail. A whisper of excitement flitters among the sunbathers.

          Around 20 miles north of Siesta beach, I spend several days in Palmetto, parking up at Fisherman’s Cove, an RV campground with sea views.

          I also visit Tampa, a city known for its Cuban community and nightlife. A Cuban sandwich at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor – which claims to be Florida’s oldest – is a highlight: perfectly roasted pork, layered with melted Swiss cheese. From Tampa, I drive north to Crystal River, where I stay at Crystal Isles Thousand Trails Park.

          Tampa's historic Ybor City district (Photo: Pgiam/Getty Images)
          Tampa’s historic Ybor City district (Photo: Pgiam/Getty Images)

          In the winter months, manatees crowd the warm waters of this small town, their numbers rising after recent conservation efforts have turned the tide on decline. It costs $50 (£40) to swim alongside them. They’re easy to spot, their bodies, typically around 9ft to 10ft in length, float above the water. The animals’ poor eyesight and gentle nature mean they are inquisitive. I’m thrilled as they touch my arms and face as I snorkel.

          In the same spirit, evenings at Florida’s RV campsites are peaceful and slow. While staying at Crystal River, I look out for turtles on the rocks. But, after nightfall, alligators are the thing to keep watch for. I see plenty in the daytime, on a tour of the Everglades.

          Manatees are returning to Crystal River (Photo: Visit Florida)
          Manatees are returning to Crystal River (Photo: Visit Florida)

          I find Florida offers as many surprises as its wildlife, not least the possibility of relaxing on a budget.

          The cost of living may be high in the US, but there are ways to reduce daily spending. I make use of the RV’s kitchen and fridge on several occasions. A motor home trip proves to be a comparatively affordable – and deeply enjoyable –way of soaking up winter sun.

          Booking it
          Tailor Made by Saga’s Snowbirds in the Sunshine self-drive holidays costs from £2,642 per person (based on two sharing) for 29 days. Customers can stay on RV parks in four destinations in Florida (Orlando, Panhandle, Crystal River and Gulf Coast). The price, valid for travel from November 2024, includes motor home hire and return flights from the UK, holiday.saga.co.uk/tailormade.

          More information
          visitflorida.com

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