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BUCKET list trips like seeing the Northern Lights or going on a safari are often hideously expensive.

And prices are even higher when you’re travelling as a family or during the school holidays.

Disneyland Paris

Your Disney holiday doesn’t have to cost a fortune – if you know where you can save money[/caption]

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But there are alternative destinations that offer either a similar or the exact same experience at a fraction of the price – potentially saving you thousands in the process.

So for budget-savvy travellers, here are some destination dupes to consider.

Disney dupes

Disney holidays are notoriously expensive, with tickets for the park costing upwards of £100 per person.

And that’s before you factor in hotel and flights – so there are a few ways you will want to save the cash.

Meet the characters

If you’re just interested in meeting the characters, the cheapest way to see them is at one of the character breakfasts at a Disney hotel, without going into the parks.

You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to book a spot either, so you can save by staying nearby.

At Disneyland Paris, this starts from €45 (£38) for adults and €36 (£30) for kids at Disneyland Hotel, which is just outside the gates of the parks so it feels even more magical.

In Florida, your cheapest option is at Cape May Cafe at Disney Beach Club Resort, where breakfast starts from $49 (£39) for adults and $33 (£26) for kids.

Enjoy the rides

If the Disney parks experience is all about the rides for you then there are lots of cheaper alternatives.

Two of the most popular in Europe are Efteling in the Netherlands and Puy du Fou in France.

Puy du Fou is actually the second most popular theme park in France with live-action shows, historical reenactments, and immersive experiences with English audio available.

Tickets start from £39 for adults and £28 for kids.

Meanwhile, Efteling is great for those with younger kids – it’s a fairytale-themed park with its own characters and more gentle rides.

Tickets start from €38 (£32) for everyone over four.

Those with older children or teens should head for PortAventura World in Spain.

There are three parks – the original PortAventura Park with rollercoasters, Caribe Aquatic Park for water slides galore, and Ferrari Land for the car-mad – which are ticketed separately.

Prices start from €40 (£34) for adults and €35 (£29) for kids for PortAventura Park, €29 (£23) for adults and €25 (£20) for kids for Caribe Aquatic Park, and €19 (£16) for adults and €17 (£14) for kids for Ferrari Land.

PortAventura World

Caribe theme park is also at PortAventura World[/caption]

Northern Lights

For the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights, you’ll need to head towards the Arctic Circle.

What makes this trip so expensive isn’t necessarily the distance – it’s the remoteness of the destination that makes everything cost more once you’re there.

Although places like Rovaniemi and Ivalo in Finnish Lapland are the obvious choices for seeing the Northern Lights, it’s possible to make savings by heading to Tromso in Norway.

It can still be expensive but prices for hotels tend to be much lower as it’s not as well-known — and there are more budget-friendly options to choose from compared to Rovaniemi.

The 3* Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso for example starts from £50 a night in low season, going up to around £200 in peak season (December and January).

For comparison, a similar hotel in Rovaniemi would be closer to £100 a night in low season and £200-£300 a night in peak season.

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Rovaniemi is popular so expect the price to be high[/caption]

Getty - Contributor

But head to Tromso and you could save hundreds on travel[/caption]

The other great thing about Tromso is that there are lots of budget airlines flying there direct from the UK, including Wizz Air, easyJet and Norwegian, with prices from £32 each way.

Once you’re there, book a tour of the area with a specialist who will take care of all the logistics.

There are options on the likes of Get Your Guide from less than £100 per person, although most are around £160 to £250 per person depending on the experience. 

You can maximise your budget by avoiding the busiest months of December and January – and this can actually improve your chances of spotting the Northern Lights.

Contrary to popular belief, spring and autumn are the best seasons for spotting them, so try September, October, March or April instead.

Another option to consider is Reykjavik in Iceland.

It’s not in the Arctic Circle, but it is located far enough north to see the aurora borealis with some regularity – and there are tours where they’ll pick you up from the city.

What makes Reykjavik particularly affordable is that there are multiple direct flights from the UK with budget airlines like easyJet and Play, while the availability of hostels mean you can keep accommodation costs seriously low.

Plus, even if you don’t see any Northern Lights, there’s plenty in the Icelandic capital to keep you busy.

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Northern Lights shinning bright over Reykajvik, Iceland[/caption]

Safaris

Long-haul flights plus private game reserves geared towards the luxury market make safari holidays one of the most expensive bucket list getaways.

Fortunately, there are so many countries in Africa where you can go on safari and see animals like elephants and giraffes out in the wild that it’s easy to find cheaper options.

Kenyan capital Nairobi is a good choice for shorter trips.

Nairobi National Park, home to lions, rhinos and giraffes, is right on the edge of the city so you can benefit from shorter travel times and affordable hotels in town.

It’s possible to visit the park independently – entry costs $43 (£35) for adults and $22 (£18) for kids, with guides mandatory and paid for separately – but you’ll find it easier to book a guided tour which sometimes includes pick-up from your hotel.

There are options from TripAdvisor-owned bookings site Viator from £36 per person.

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A Nairobi safari is a cheaper alternative[/caption]

Flights to Nairobi start from around £400 return, while hotels are relatively affordable, especially if you scout around.

For example, the 3* Olsupat Lodge, right on the edge of Nairobi National Park, has rooms from £78 a night.

South Africa is another option. 

You’ll need to drive a little further from the gateway cities and most safari properties are game reserves, which are giant privately-owned safari parks rather than national parks.

The good thing about these is that you’ll have a good chance to see a variety of animals, and your stay, meals and game drives are generally all included, which can make things a little cheaper.

Try Aquila Private Game Reserve, which is about a two-hour drive from Cape Town.

Stays start from R2,890 (£126) per person a night full-board, and include a morning and an afternoon game drive to see the animals.

A two-or three-night stay usually gives you enough time to see everything.

Direct flights from the UK start from around £550 return.

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You can get cheap direct flights to Nairobi from the UK[/caption]

IT’S 11am on a rainy Thursday and one busy playground is lined with buggies where pre-school aged children are playing. 

Just beyond the swings a group of parents have gathered, chatting amongst themselves whilst keeping a watchful eye as their sons and daughters dash between the climbing frame and slide. 

Sonja Horsman

Single mum Phoebe Smith, 21, believes the ‘single mum capital of the UK’ is a hot spot for “dumping single mums and giving them no support”[/caption]

Sonja Horsman

Shekera Williams, 25, says that her experience of being a single mum in the area is “just trying to make do”[/caption]

Sonja Horsman

Charities are working tirelessly to support struggling single mums and their children[/caption]

But one thing stands out here – there’s no men in this playground just off Lewisham high street, only women.

This pocket of South East London is home to some of the most densely populated areas of single parent families in the country – as much as 71% in some neighbourhoods, according to latest Census. 

There are claims by some that this area has become a “dumping ground” for women raising children alone.

The London borough has a population just shy of 300,000, and many locals see it as the ‘single mum capital of the UK’.

The figures speak for themselves.

In the Lewisham North constituency, 47% of families with children are headed up by a lone-parent, as are 44% in neighbouring Lewisham East, an FOI request found. 

The closest soft play centre lies four miles away, so even in freezing, damp January weather, Lewisham’s outdoor parks are full.

The playground is free, something which is welcomed by the women here as many of them are struggling to make ends meet.

Local baby banks, which supply struggling mothers with essentials like clothes, formula and toiletries, are inundated with requests.

The living conditions for these women who are raising their children independently can be bleak.

Single mum Phoebe Smith, 21, spent all of last year in mould-riddled temporary accommodation in Lewisham.

The Contract Support Administrator was born and raised in nearby Southwark alongside her two younger siblings, and her parents split when she was 12-years-old.

She welcomed her daughter in August 2023, but wasn’t with the dad.

Phoebe was living in her mum’s flat alongside her siblings when Isbaella was a newborn. But due to severe overcrowding, she had to leave. 

Sonja Horsman

Single mum Phoebe spent all of last year in mould-riddled temporary accommodation in Lewisham[/caption]

She was allocated temporary accommodation in Lewisham in January 2024 – an area of London she wasn’t familiar with – by Southwark council due to lack of availability in the area. 

“I know two other single mums from my area who were just fobbed off in Lewisham,” Phoebe says. “It’s like they just drop us here in hope we’ll become somebody else’s problem.”

She has also heard of other London councils doing the same, and believes Lewisham is a hot spot for “dumping single mums and giving them no support”. 

Meanwhile, supermarkets up and down Lewisham high street are sold out of nappies, and some aisles are so packed full with buggies whilst mums shop that it’s hard to pass through. 

I know two other single mums from my area who were just fobbed off in Lewisham. It’s like they just drop us here in hope we’ll become somebody else’s problem

Phoebe Smith

Phoebe’s third-floor bedsit didn’t have a secure front door and was riddled with mould in the hallway, where she had to leave Isabella’s pram every night as she couldn’t carry it up the stairs alone.

“There were many nights I’d just sit in the room and cry my eyes out,” she says. “I felt hopeless and didn’t know how it was going to get better.” 

Phoebe had to return to work from maternity leave early after finding her Universal Credit benefits didn’t stretch far enough to keep her afloat in a brand new area. 

Due to the prevalence of working single mums, there is a gender pay gap that swings in women’s favour, according to the Lewisham Council Annual Employment Profile for 2023. 

Women are paid more than their male counterparts throughout the borough. For every £1 earned by men, women receive 11 pence more.

But the numbers jar with what’s happening at ground level.

Despite the important role women play in Lewisham’s workforce, figures show that a startling amount of single mums in the borough are living in poverty, with 33% of children living below the poverty line, according to the 2021 Consensus.

After a year of what she describes as “torture”, Phoebe was allocated new temporary accommodation closer to her family and friends in Southwark in January this year.  

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Single mum Shekera Williams, 25, is raising her twin daughters, seven, in a hostel after having to leave her 61-year-old deaf mum’s overcrowded flat[/caption]

This vicious cycle of ‘in-work poverty’ is something fellow single mum Shekera Williams knows all too well, having been raised by a single mum and then becoming one herself. 

The 25-year-old, who is Lewisham born-and-bred, is raising her twin daughters Nyla and Milan, seven, in a hostel after having to leave her 61-year-old deaf mum’s overcrowded flat.

She co-parents with her daughters’ dad but has to work two jobs – one in a bar and another as a learning support assistant for young people with learning difficulties – to make ends meet. 

“I fell pregnant in my last year of college but was never in a relationship with my daughters’ dad,” Shekera says. “My experience of being a single mum in Lewisham is having no other choice but to make do.”

My experience of being a single mum in Lewisham is having no other choice but to make do

Shekera Williams

She was moved into the hostel towards the end of 2023 but feels grateful for the move, as she says it has given her a “sisterhood” with the fellow single mums who live beside her. 

The hostel, which is a short bus ride from Lewisham centre, is home to around 18 other single mums and their children, a number of which Shekera says have been housed there by neighbouring councils.

“Living with other single mums has made my life easier,” Shekera says. “I’m someone who’s been through a lot and I connect with people who have gone through the same struggle. 

“All of the mums in my hostel have an amazing story – some are young, some are older, some are even from a different country.”

Sonja Horsman

Childrens’ parks in Lewisham are busy all year round, even in damp January weather[/caption]

Shekera continues: “We’re a sisterhood. We cry together, we laugh together and we even tell each other off.

“It’s not easy being a single mum but us being here together is keeping us all going.

“All of our children love each other so much, so it’s hard to even close the door sometimes.”

When Shekera needs milk or sugar, she knows one of her neighbours will lend some out without hesitation. 

We’re not scared to go it alone because we have each other to lean on

Shekera Williams

She thinks sisterhood is why there are so many single mums in Lewisham. 

“We’re not scared to go it alone because we have each other to lean on,” Shekera says. 

This sense of community is also at the heart of baby banks operating in the area, such as MammaKind, which offers valuable support to struggling families.

It was co-founded by PR whizz Kirsty Lowe and business support expert Kelly Fort in 2019, and provides essentials from nappies to prams for those with children aged five and under. 

Sonja Horsman

Kirsty Lowe and Kelly Fort are the founders of MammaKind baby bank in Lewisham and work closely with single mums in the area[/caption]

The majority of the families it supports are headed by a single mother, according to the charity. 

Figures for 2023 reveal that 64% of the families who accessed MammaKind’s services had single parents at the helm, though Kirsty anticipates this number to be higher in 2024. 

The average MammaKind starter package, which is offered to single mums free of charge, would cost £1,700 in total if bought brand new. 

It includes prams, clothes, vests, nappies and some hygiene products for mum. 

How would someone claiming benefits, or with no recourse to public funds, be able to afford that? It’s just completely unattainable for so many mum

Kirsty Lowe

Kirsty says this is out of reach for mums in the Lewisham area.

“How would someone claiming benefits, or with no recourse to public funds, be able to afford that? It’s just completely unattainable for so many mums,” says Kirsty. 

Kelly adds: “Dignity is at the heart of everything we do. We’d never give a mum something we wouldn’t be happy with our own children having.”

The volunteers at MammaKind recall helping a young, single mum who was living in Lewisham high street’s Travelodge for over a year with her disabled son. 

Sonja Horsman

MammaKind has volunteers that work tirelessly to support single mums in the area[/caption]

Despite his complex needs, the mum was allegedly moved to a different room in the hotel every two weeks.

It’s a sad situation that MammaKind faces. 

Most of the vulnerable mums they help are referred to them by midwives and family services. 

However, the charity is currently piloting a face-to-face programme for single mums to drop in without a referral and pick up what they need, when they need it.

So many single parents are forced to make impossible decisions every day, just so they can afford basic living costs

Sarah LambertGingerbread

Kirsty and Kelly urged fellow mums to donate baby clothes, toys and gadgets they no longer need to their local baby bank.

You can find your nearest centre through the interactive Baby Bank Map.

There are more than three million single-parent families in the UK, and 89% are headed up by a single mum, according to research from Gingerbread, a charity which supports single parent families.

Nationwide, 44% of children in these families are living in poverty, according to Gingerbread’s figures.

Sonja Horsman

There are over three million single-parent families in the UK, and 89% are headed up by a single mum[/caption]

The charity is now calling for the government to make ‘serious’ improvements to the support given to lone parents.

Sarah Lambert, Head of Policy, says: “Our research shows that too many separated parents are going without food and heating and still being pushed into debt because a single household income simply doesn’t stretch far enough.

“We have been told time and again that this government is having to make difficult decisions to protect our economy. 

“This will be all too familiar to so many single parents who are forced to make impossible decisions every day, just so they can afford basic living costs. 

“If this government is genuinely committed to tackling child poverty, then we need to see the Child Maintenance Service reformed so that it works for the parents who use it and the children it is designed to support.”

Lewisham council declined to comment.

IF you were watching Dragons Den this week – you may have noticed a pitch not normally associated with corporate boardroom shenanigans.

Clever Henry Bartlam and co-founder Alex Hollingsworth managed to secure a whopping £75k investment from entrepreneur Sara Davies for new company Dig Club – one of only a few horticultural endeavours to win big on the BBC series.

The Dad-of-four told Sun Gardening: “Dig was a lockdown idea and was all about making gardening easier and more accessible for everyone.

“From my experience, gardening is great, it’s really rewarding, but it’s tricky. You buy plants, you put them in the ground, you hope for the best.

“But it’s hard to get that finished garden design look without spending an enormous amount of money on a garden designer.

“So I started Dig as a way to kind of get that garden design look at garden centre prices.

“Much like recipe kits, where you can sort of create delicious meals but have the hard work done for you in terms of recipe planning – that’s essentially what Dig does for gardening.

“You choose from our themes, you tell us whether you have flower or raised beds, sun or shade, and then we deliver what we call instant flower beds that are pre-designed.

“Everything’s colour coded, it’s paint by numbers – and you get lovely established plants, so you get that kind of instant impact almost from day one.

“It’s really about making gardening easy, but the great thing is that you still get to plant it all yourself.

“And that’s when the kind of love of gardening really comes from – when something grows and flourishes.”

Sara said: “When Alex and Henry began their pitch, I immediately saw how Dig’s offering would resonate with a lifestyle and DIY-focused consumer base who love the idea of gardening but don’t know where to start.

“They are passionate about sharing their joy and knowledge for gardening, and I believe there’s a whole generation of consumers out there eager to enjoy the benefits of Dig’s Instant Beds and other products.

“I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and dig in with the team to make gardening easy and accessible for everyone.”

The Chicago Blackhawks are likely to be sellers at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. In fact, the Blackhawks began this process by trading Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes back in late January. Chicago has a number of trade candidates who could be on the move. And while Connor Murphy isn’t their flashiest candidate, he […]

The post Best Connor Murphy landing spots before 2025 NHL trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In a surprising turn of events, Chicago billionaire Justin Ishbia has dropped his pursuit of purchasing the Minnesota Twins and will instead increase his minority stake in the Chicago White Sox, according to The Athletic. This shift comes as a major blow to the Twins’ ongoing efforts to find a new owner, as Ishbia had […]

The post Mat Ishbia’s brother drops pursuit of Twins ownership appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Golden State Warriors, prior to the trade deadline, decided to take a risk. They stepped up to the plate and decided that taking a chance on a disgruntled Jimmy Butler, who’s done nothing but frustrate the Miami Heat brass, was worth it. After all, Butler has proven in the past that he can show […]

The post Warriors’ Jimmy Butler gets big Steve Kerr endorsement after beating Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints.

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks earned a 111-103 victory against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. The Mavs are currently without four centers due to injuries, so Williamson made an effort to back down defenders in the post throughout the affair. He ended up recording 29 points, seven […]

The post Jason Kidd drops honest admission on small-ball Mavericks’ versus Zion Williamson appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Friday night, the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves faced off yet again; two of their first three meetings went down to the wire, and they did not disappoint in the entertainment department in their fourth and final matchup of the season. In the end, it was the Rockets that came out on top, 121-115, […]

The post Jalen Green drops ‘best’ Anthony Edwards take after epic duel in Rockets win appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Next week, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch will address the media at the NFL Scouting Combine. This will be his first press conference since early January. Lynch will speak on Wednesday, February 26, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time and provide insight into the team’s offseason plans and pre-draft approach. Meanwhile, head coach Kyle Shanahan […]

The post 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan makes eyebrow-raising decision about NFL Combine appeared first on ClutchPoints.

SHANE DOOLEY expects the young guns to embrace the chance to fire Offaly to another Croke Park triumph over Dublin.

This evening’s National League fixture is the first meeting of the teams at HQ since the visitors emerged victorious in January 2018.

INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

On that occasion, Dooley bagged 1-5 for the Faithful, who subjected Pat Gilroy to a 13-point hammering in his first game in charge of the Dubs.

Gilroy’s side exacted revenge later that season with a comprehensive Championship win that condemned their opponents to relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Yet having been absent from hurling’s top table for the last several years, a talented crop of youngsters have got Offaly dreaming again.

A 15-point trouncing of Antrim last time out sent them to the top of Division 1B. Ten of the players who featured against the Saffrons played in All-Ireland Under-20 finals in the past two seasons.

And Dooley admitted: “It’s great for Offaly to have these young lads coming through. They could be generational but it’s early days and they need to keep working at it for the next couple of years.

“They’re a long way from their prime age so a lot can happen.”

The glory days of the 1980s and 90s that yielded four All-Ireland SHC titles were a distant memory for Offaly fans as their team slipped rapidly down the pecking order.

But the future looks much brighter following the emergence of a talented crop of youngsters that includes Charlie Mitchell, Donal Shirley, Cathal King and Adam Screeney.

Beaten by a formidable Cork outfit in the 2023 All-Ireland Under-20 final, they made amends last summer by getting over the line at the expense of Tipperary. Under new gaffer Niall Ó Ceallacháin, Dublin have also made an encouraging start to 2025 with wins against Antrim and Westmeath.

But on Offaly’s prospects, Dooley said: “I’d give them every chance against Dublin up in Croke Park, to be honest.

“I think the Offaly lads will relish playing up there, all these young lads that have had a bit of success in the Under-20s and stuff.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them up there and giving Dublin a right shot.

“You wouldn’t fear them but you’d respect them. Dublin in Croke Park won’t be simple, especially with the way they’re going in the league as well. They’re doing well.

“It’s going to be a tough one but it’s one the Offaly lads could definitely win if they get it right on the night.”

FAMILY TREE

Dooley’s father Joe is the only Offaly man in possession of three All-Ireland medals. Uncles Johnny and Billy also won two apiece.

Although his time on the inter-county beat came during a period of little success for the Faithful, Shane enjoyed a stellar career of his own.

He strongly considered retirement in 2022 before returning for a 17th season. The 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final loss to Carlow was the last stand for Offaly’s all-time leading scorer.

He said: “I couldn’t have given it any more. It wasn’t a case of being disappointed for myself because I could have given an extra year. I knew I had no more to give. I was just delighted for the lads with the fact that they went on and did it.”

Dooley, 38, was a delighted spectator at Croker back in June as Offaly edged out Laois to seal their return to top-tier Championship hurling.

The Tullamore man added: “It was great to see the lads win it last year but I wasn’t too upset that I wasn’t there because the year before was the bonus year that I got.

“It was tough watching some of the games. You go to the first league game and that’s when it hits home that you’re not part of the set-up anymore. You’re not even sure what way the team is going to be picked or what’s going on in the background, all those little things. You’re really out of the loop fairly suddenly.

“It was tough but I was just delighted the lads did the business and went on and won it and got promoted.”

TOP PRIORITY

While a win over Dublin would give Offaly’s promotion hopes a huge boost, Dooley knows their top priority this year is to make an impact in the Leinster SHC.

The Dubs will also provide the opposition when the campaign begins on April 19-20.

The meeting with Antrim on the final weekend of round-robin action could also be crucial if Johnny Kelly’s side are to retain their Liam MacCarthy Cup status.

Dooley said: “It’s important that we don’t go down and that could come down to the last game.

“I don’t know what way Johnny is going to approach it but you’d have to approach it that you’re going to try to win every game you go out to play. I definitely think there are a couple of scalps there that we could take, the way we’re going. I’d definitely set the bar high and see how it goes after that.”

As for Johnny Pilkington’s recent prediction that Offaly will be All-Ireland champions again by 2030, Dooley has no intention of contradicting one of the county’s all-time greats.

He insisted: “I’m not going to go against Johnny Pilkington anyway! You always have hope.

“If we can keep bringing through these young lads that are doing so well at underage, they’re hurling with a level of confidence that we haven’t seen for a good few years.

“They’re coming through big games and they don’t seem to mind the pressure.

“If we can keep bringing on young lads like that, it’s probably very realistic. A lot of those lads might be in their prime around that time, in five or six years’ time, so please God, if they stay going the way they’re going, we might have some bit of success.”

l  SHANE DOOLEY was speaking in his role as an ambassador for the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships.