NEED a hol in the heat?
Wait a couple of weeks and you can bag a great bargain.
Prices have soared now that half-term’s here, but next month you’ll be able to score big on epic breaks.
Sophie Swietochowski has a look at hot getaways for March you’d be crazy to miss.
March is one of the best times to visit Vietnam when it comes to weather, with less rainfall and balmy temperatures that are warm enough for catching a tan, but cool enough to explore in comfort.
Ho Chi Minh City in the south is a great base for first-timers, with culture, history, gastronomy and nightlife on your doorstep.
GO: Four nights’ room-only at the 5* Sherwood Residence is from £976pp, with Qatar Airways flights from Heathrow on March 15.
See holidays.qatarairways.com.
You can expect temperatures of 24C on average in Morocco’s fourth largest city next month.
And at the 4* Riu Tikida Palmeraie, guests can soak it up from an exceptionally large outdoor pool and loungers scattered in between leafy palm trees.
Visit the hotel’s El Nakheel restaurant to sample classic Moroccan dishes in a traditional setting.
GO: Three nights’ all-inclusive at the Riu Tikida Palmeraie is from £335pp including flights from Gatwick on March 4.
See tui.co.uk.
Crystal clear waters make Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa a great snorkelling spot, with a plethora of marine life in the colourful coral.
Late March is also a cheaper time to head on safari to spot the big five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo.
GO: Four nights’ room-only at the 4* Sea View Lodge, Jambiani is from £1,200pp with flights from Heathrow on March 15.
See holidays.qatarairways.com/en.
For those travelling in a group, Villa Allegra in the quaint town of Callao Salvaje in Tenerife has enough room for six in four traditionally decorated bedrooms.
Outside is a spacious terrace with an L-shaped swimming pool, as well as a barbecue placed under a flower-drenched pergola.
The beach is under a kilometre away, while shops and restaurants can be found in the town centre.
GO: Seven nights’ self-catering at Villa Allegra is from £699pp including flights from Newcastle on March 3.
See jet2holidays.com.
The resort region on Cyprus’s south-west coast has always been popular for its warm weather, fresh seafood, golden sand beaches and its affordability.
If you book now, you can score yourself a scorching deal, including a stay at the 4* Avlida Hotel, where an outdoor pool is backed by a lush forest, and bedroom balconies overlook a blue ocean.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at Avlida Hotel is from £269pp including flights from Liverpool on March 24.
See loveholidays.com.
The Greek capital is not scorching in March.
Expect temperatures in the mid teens, but you may be grateful for that when you climb the steps of the mighty Acropolis or weave your way between ancient ruins.
Fortunately, at the 5* Wyndham Athens Residence, there’s plenty of relaxation on offer for when you need to rest weary legs, including a luxury spa and rooftop pool.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Wyndham Athens Residence is from £596.86pp including flights from Luton on March 11.
See olympicholidays.com.
KRISPY Kreme has revealed a brand new doughnut version of an iconic chocolate – but with a major change.
Fans are going wild after the brand launched the all-new Munchies doughnut collection.
Krispy Kreme has partnered up with Munchies to bring in the best of both worlds.
The new Munchies range has two sensational sweet products: the Munchies Kreme doughnut and the Munchies Caramel milkshake.
Fans of Krispy Kreme will love the new doughnut which is filled with caramel cream, drizzled with caramel, and topped with a Munchies sweet.
It has been described as gooey, chewy caramel which will bring double the fun and feels to coffee breaks.
While the new milkshake comes swirled with Munchies pieces and caramel sauce at the top.
However, the all-new Munchies doughnut comes with a major change.
Unlike traditional doughnuts which are round, the new treat comes in a square shape.
To celebrate the launch of the iconic doughnut, Krispy Kreme has introduced three fantastic combos for all sweet lovers to grab.
First up is the Munchies Combo that comes with the new doughnut and shakes.
The second option is the Munchies pack of three, which includes the iconic Original Glaze and two must-have Munchies doughnuts.
Last but definitely not least, the company has introduced Munchies Dozen – a blissful box of twelve tasty doughnuts, starring the iconic Original Glazed and our newest arrival.
Guy Meakin, Krispy Kreme UK President, said: “The new Munchies range is here for some melt-in-your-mouth madness.
“Our newest collaboration promises to be the real deal for all caramel connoisseurs.
“The Munchies combo is set to double the fun, with the same delicious taste as our usual round doughnuts, now gone square!”
Kate Alexander, Head of Food and Commercial Channels, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Krispy Kreme to bring you these delicious four-sided doughnuts.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to bring joy to our customers, and partnering with Krispy Kreme, who are constantly looking for sharp and out-of-the-box ideas, is the perfect way to ensure our customers are always supplied with a brand new delightfully delicious sweet treat.”
Krispy Kreme Munchies doughnuts and shakes are available in-shop and delivery via nationwide delivery on Krispy Kreme’s app and website, individually and by the dozen.
It comes after Krispy Kreme introduced the new Hearts In Bloom collection for Valentine’s Day.
The collection features a delightful arrangement of four heart-shaped doughnuts nestled in a flower bouquet of dozen boxes.
Valentine’s shoppers can also enjoy the Hearts in Bloom Collection in a Krispy Kreme 6-pack box delivered fresh daily to select retailers.
Krispy Kreme UK currently operates over 141 Krispy Kreme retail shops and has a presence in over a whopping 1650 cabinets with partners including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
