A HOME decor expert shared how she transformed her balcony into a gathering spot with affordable Walmart purchases.

Her home renovation even included a budget-friendly lemonade bar.

5

5

Alexandra (@alexandrareynolds_) shared her interior design ideas in a TikTok video.

“Turned my boring apartment balcony into an outdoor oasis with affordable finds from Walmart,” she said.

She grabbed $30 steel trash cans, $15 bins, $12 plates and $20 pillows from the home section of Walmart to store her belongings.

For her balcony’s main focal point, she chose a $598 sectional rug and a matching rattan rug for rest and relaxation.

An $80 Better Homes & Gardens bar cart and a $23 drink dispenser were parts of her DIY lemonade bar.

Once home, she assembled the sectional and placed it in a corner, overlooking her balcony.

Next to her resting place she placed the cart, filled with containers for lemonade cups, ice, sparkling water and the drink dispenser filled with lemonade.

Others have also given their patios a complete makeover with affordable finds.

Kristya DIY expert, took on the project after growing tired of her opinions.

“This side of the patio needed a makeover and honestly, I was tired of staring at our air conditioning units,” she said.

In addition to a makeover, she explained that she desperately needed some privacy.

“I gave my porch a DIY patio makeover and added this privacy wall – provides so much shade and changed the whole patio design,” she said.

With a quick trip to Home Depot, she grabbed wooden slats to assemble her wall.

She sanded the wood and gave the slats a quick paint job.

Kristy couldn’t have been happier with the end result once the wall was up.

“This louvered wall provides so much shade on this side of the patio,” she said.

5

5

5

• American researchers analyzed data from more than 10,000 people

By Roger Dobson

Published: 8:16 PM EDT, March 16, 2024 | Updated: 9:56 PM EDT, March 16, 2024

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: 11:57 AM EDT, March 13, 2024 | Updated: 12:17 EDT, March 13, 2024

A WOMAN has been slammed after sharing a photo of her ‘sexy’ wedding dress, which she says is ‘too boring’.

If you’ve ever been invited to someone’s wedding, you know how stressful it can be to find the perfect outfit. So one guy took to Reddit to ask for advice from other social media users.

4

Unsure if the bedazzled bodycon dress was “too boring” for the summer wedding she’d received an invite to, the guest also uploaded a photo of the outfit.

But despite thinking the nude, figure-hugging number might be a little too boring for the ceremony, the outfit choice was quickly rudely rejected by fellow Redditors.

“Is the summer wedding too boring?” the fashionista wondered her messageshared on the popular Wedding dress approval forum page.

The stunning bardot style maxi dress featured thousands of sparkling embellishments and ruffles around the bust.

The nude gown, which accentuated the model’s curves, also featured a side slit, and the brand paired the look with silver heels.

According to the guest, there was no set dress code, although she added that the tone was “cocktail.”

The post was quickly flooded with comments – and unfortunately for the style enthusiast, it seems almost no one was a fan of the outfit, or approved of it.

More than a dozen fellow Redditors rushed to comments to share their thoughts on the gown, which many said was inappropriate for a wedding.

One said: ”I think it’s a bit ‘in your face’ but it depends on how people normally dress where you are.”

Someone else wondered if the woman actually planned to show up to the ceremony in the enchanted dress, writing: “Are you trolling?”

”I think you attract the wrong attention with such a nude-colored dress. That’s my honest opinion,” wrote another, advising her to find an alternative.

Not only did some claim that the dress was ‘too nude’ in their eyes, there were also those who felt that the dress was ‘too bridal’ and that the nude shade – depending on her skin tone – might make her look off. naked” to other guests.

Meanwhile, another Reddit user chimed in, describing the dress as ”a bit tacky”.

”Unless I’m 100% sure that all women dress extravagantly, the bride wears an over-the-top dress and actually expects her wedding guests to dress that way, I would definitely stay away from nude + full glitter + sexy cut.

“At a Dutch wedding you would be considered a bit tacky if you showed up here when the dress code was formal.”

4

Are you planning a wedding, but don’t know what to wear? Shoppers recently went crazy for a ”stunning” River Island spring wedding guest dress – and it’s a bargain too.

Fans of the retailer are enthusiastic about their beautiful ‘Green Satin Floral Cowl Neck Slip Midi Dress’, featuring a beautiful floral print and made of a satin fabric that fits perfectly on your curves.

The sleeveless dress has a flattering midi length and the dress also has a trendy turtleneck, while the bow detail at the waist accentuates your waist.

According to the well-known brand, the dress comes in different sizes ranging from UK 6 to UK 10, and is also available in four different styles.

So whatever your style, there’s a color and pattern for everyone.

4

4

A DIY fanatic fed up with the boring alcove in her living room transformed it into a functional desk space stocked with B&Q bargains.

Alex Lawson, from Aberdeen, regularly shares her tips for transforming homes on Instagram, where she has 311,000 followers (@casalawson).

3

3

3

The clever blogger urges people to “feel the fear and do it yourself”, with many swearing by her simple tutorials to turn their house into a home.

Alex, who now lives in London, also offers interior design advice for anyone looking for inspiration.

In a recent video, she revealed that she was tired of the corner in her living room and wanted to convert it into a workspace where she could sit with her laptop.

So she spent £76 on wood from B&Q plus £9.50 on a paintbrush and around £44 on paint for a DIY project.

She said: “I created an alcove desk to create my dream office space using materials, paint and accessories from B&Q.

“I built the frame for the desk and shelves first, then used 300mm pine furniture planks for the shelves and desk.

“I then added a front trim and stained it with the color of my choice. I absolutely love how this space turned out and can’t believe how easy it was to complete.”

She told her fellow DIY fans about her steps, saying: “First of all, I painted the back wall in a striking color.

“This is a custom color from the V&Co dead-flat mat range (prices start from £44). It goes on like a dream.

“Then I made my cutting list and started cutting the pieces of wood for my frame together.

“I checked to make sure there was nothing behind it before drilling into the wall.

“I first went in with a smaller drill bit and then with a larger one, put Rawlplugs in the wall and then screwed them in place.

“I completed this until I had a texture on all three sides and then it was time to cut the top.

“I had a tricky part getting around the chimney breast, so I used a piece of cardboard and my jigsaw to make a template.

“I then continued the same process to create a frame for the shelves.

“I obviously screwed everything in with a pilot hole first so we didn’t split the wood and then secured these front pieces.”

She added: “After this I colored everything with lime wash [and] white wash and followed by one of my favorite brown spots.

“I absolutely love it. I can’t believe how easy this was to do. I should have done it months ago.

“It’s so great to now have a practical workspace.”

Her DIY transformation has racked up around 170,000 views and homeowners are raving about the results.

One said: “I love this!! What a great hack.”

A second wrote: “Really beautiful! I wish I was good at DIY!”

A third added: “Love love love this!!!!!!!!! Well done!!!!”

A fourth chimed in: “Oh wow this is amazing.”

A fifth echoed: ‘Great work! You make it look so easy!’

A sixth gushed: “Great tips, you made it look easy and it takes skill, it looks great.”

And someone else said, “I actually can’t. You just built this yourself. It’s amazing and so beautiful. You have some skills that I’m in awe of.”

Alex first became interested in DIY after purchasing her first home in September 2019.

The engineer, who was a finalist for Scotland’s Christmas House of the Year, previously said: “I’m on a mission to inspire people to step out of their comfort zone, try new projects and create a beautiful home for themselves in the process.”

A BUDGET DIYer has proven that it is possible to spend less and still get a luxurious look.

She transformed her entire bathroom space by adding some stylish elements for $100.

11

11

“Let's give my boring millennial gray bathroom a heavenly makeover,” said Sam Franco (@bara_hari).

She showed the boring room that was ready for her Do it yourself hits.

First she pulled up the previous tile which revealed a beige floor with black marbled details.

“I almost forgot how ugly the floor underneath was,” she said.

Sam was ready to kick off her stylish transformation — all while saving money.

“I do this with the smallest possible budget.”

Her inspiration came from images of black and white themed bathrooms from the 1920s.

First she made sure the floors were thoroughly cleaned by removing all the adhesive from the old tiles.

Her makeover mission also included using an entire bottle of Goo Gone and another bottle of 90% alcohol.

It took three boxes of black and white Floor Pops peel-and-stick vinyl floor tiles to get the inspired look she wanted.

Sam also warned that the project could require some extra effort to become tenant-friendly.

Her Floor Pop peel and stick tiles can be found on Amazon for $13.97 per box and are described as water-resistant and washable, while being easy to apply.

The home improvement product received many five-star reviews.

“These tiles did the trick: easy to install and transformed my bathroom floor from old, stained linoleum to a fresh, new look!” wrote on copper.

“Nice quality, easy to install, nice design!” said another buyer.

Her only complaint was that some of the patterns didn't match up perfectly.

Still, she didn't complain because of her budgetary constraints and the fact that she didn't have much to measure.

“Luckily the linoleum tiles that were already on the floor were the exact same size as the tiles I replaced them with,” she said.

After realizing some of the tiles weren't sticking, she went in with sandpaper to sand down the floor.

Next came the cutting process using a cutting mat, rotary cutter, acrylic ruler and X-acto.

She made sure to be extra careful around the toilet area.

The plain bathroom countertop with a marbled yellow appearance was the next to be replaced.

She ended up using floor tiles that were ultra-thin for the back wall area.

Sam was a fan of the black and white star pattern look, but not her striped shower curtain that gave too much of a sailor vibe.

She decided to go with a white shower curtain paired with black shower hooks from Home Goods.

“I thought it looked much more stylish. Super in love with the plain white,” she said.

She also loved that the curtain had some texture.

She may not have been able to paint the already peeling walls, but she got around the problem by adding new elements to the space and upgrading her plain towels with a patterned design.

Her fans were floored by the new floor.

“You encouraged me more to change my bathroom, thank you!” said one follower.

“That bathroom aesthetic is my literal dream,” said another viewer.

She also added a piece of furniture with plants, as well as candles and other decorative pieces, including floral prints on the walls.

She had already envisioned adding a new fixture and light switches, but she was pleased with her chic new space — and especially the price.

“I'm pretty happy with it. I spent maybe $100,” she said.

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

Kim Kardashian was accused of having one of the most boring VIP Super Bowl boxes when in the in the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday.

But everyone was wrong.

Turns out her $1M box was a hot zone for love as her new boyfriend was tucked away in the back minding his own business as Kim chit-chatted with her sister Khloe Kardashian and pal Lala Anthony.

Upon closer inspection of one of the many images taken on game day when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, it has been discovered that Odell was hiding out in the box filled with A-listers.

The football player could be seen in the back row of the large box as he looked down at his cell phone.

He is not looking at the camera so it is hard to tell it was him, but it indeed was.

In front of him were Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, as well as  Justin Bieber and his supermodel wife Hailey Bieber, Denver Bronco’s quarterback Russell Wilson and his singer wife Ciara, Anthony and model Winnie Harlow.

The SKKN owner was also seen in the company of Odell in Las Vegas on Saturday, as seen in photos obtained by DailyMail.com.  They were spied at a resort. 

The reality TV star, 43, and the football player, 31, have been happily dating for five months, but are being careful to stay under the radar so as not to invite judgment, UsWeekly reported last week.

‘Odell’s personality is much more private than Kardashian’s,’ a source told the site. 

The athlete is more ‘low key,’ it was shared, and he doesn’t want to be headline news like she was with Kanye West, Kris Humphries as well as Reggie Bush, and, more recently, Pete Davidson.

Now the SKIMS founder and the Baltimore Ravens player are ‘trying to figure out the next steps’ to their romance.

It seems to be an odd connection as her younger sister Khloe reportedly dated Odell briefly in 2016. Odell has also worked with Kim’s younger half sister Kendall Jenner for the Moon toothpaste campaign in 2021. 

Kim and Odell were rumored to be at the same pre-Grammy party with TMZ claiming there was talk they were amorous. The star-studded pre-Grammy bash was thrown by Jay-Z at the exclusive Bird Streets club and also saw other celebrity attendees including Lil Uzi Vert as well as Kris Jenner’s boyfriend Corey Gamble.

An insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com last month that Kim is ‘fond’ of Odell. But she wants to keep mum as speculation of their romance continue.  ‘Kim wants to keep her romantic life as private as she can right now,’ an insider told DailyMail.com. 

On Monday Kim was accused of having a very dull box. 

While Kim looked at her cell phone with her head down, foe Taylor Swift pumped her arms in the air as she cheered on her Kansas City Chiefs boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Both boxes were sprinkled with VIP names (and Kim had even bigger names around her than Taylor did), but the temperature was a big contrast. 

There even appeared to be a guy asleep in his seat in Kim’s camp. 

But there was plenty going on in that box, it turns out, as her new love interest was there all along.

Kim and Taylor have a negative history that includes Kim’s ex-husband Kanye West so a comparison on their two boxes was inevitable.

In Kim’s box were her two sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner. That is a lot of star power right there.

And the Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s vet also had buddy Justin Bieber and his supermodel wife Hailey Bieber.

Also seen were Denver Bronco’s quarterback Russell Wilson and his singer wife Ciara who sat one row back from Kim.

Reality TV star La La Anthony – who used to be married to basketball star Carmelo Anthony – was also spied as she sat next to Kim then said hello to Ciara.

Model Winnie Harlow was also spied as she looked at her cell phone and didn’t seem to chat much to anyone. 

In Taylor’s box was movie and TV star Blake Lively, who is married to Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds. 

Also present were singers Ice Spice, Lana Del Rey and RIOTUSA, and Top Gun: Maverick actor Miles Teller with model wife Keleigh Teller. 

A bonus buddy: Emma Stone’s stylist pal Ashley Avignone.

There are a lot of factors to weigh in: Kim is much older at 43, is a busy reality TV star and SKIMS mogul and mom of four, and has already been to several football games in the past (she used to date Reggie Bush, after all).

Taylor is 34 and fresh at all of this, plus she is romancing one of the key players on the field so she was very invested in the game.

But the SKKN beauty and makeup mogul seems to be hesitant to bring the romance out in the open after splitting from Kanye West three years ago. 

The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately beat out the slight favorite San Francisco 49ers, 25-22, as Patrick Mahomes threw a three-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime. 

Kim and Taylor have a past.

Swift slammed Kim for ‘taking her down psychologically’ during her 2023 TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year interview. Taylor revealed details about the dispute that originated when Kim’s then-husband, Kanye West, incorporated explicit lyrics about the emerging star in a 2016 song.

Kanye asserted that Taylor had given her consent for the reference. However, after Taylor denied it, Kim intervened by releasing what the popstar referred to as ‘an illegally recorded phone call’ between them, aiming to prove otherwise.

Taylor expressed that the resulting public fallout felt like ‘a career death,’ emphasizing, ‘Make no mistake—my career was taken away from me.’

Reflecting on the aftermath and the severe toll it took on her well-being, Taylor shared with the outlet, ‘You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar.

‘That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before. I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls.’

‘I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.’

The conflict between Taylor, Kim, and Kanye began surfacing as early as 2009, unexpectedly emerging when the then 19-year-old Taylor received the Best Female Video award for You Belong with Me at the MTV Video Music Awards. Out of nowhere, during her acceptance speech, Kanye abruptly stormed onto the stage, wrestled the microphone from her hands, and declared, ‘Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time. One of the absolute best!’

In an attempt to ease the awkwardness, Beyoncé later invited Taylor on stage when she won Video of the Year for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), graciously providing the country music star with a moment in the spotlight.

However, the tension persisted when the father-of-four once again embarrassed the star at the 2015 VMAs. It seemed like the two were getting along, as Kanye quipped, ‘You know how many times they announced Taylor was going to give me the award ’cause it got them more ratings?’

However, Taylor later revealed his statement bothered her, as he publicly suggested it was for ratings, while privately asking her to join him on stage because it would ‘mean so much.’ Taylor later told Rolling Stone: ‘I’m standing in the audience with my arm around his wife, and this chill ran through my body. I realized he is so two-faced. That he wants to be nice to me behind the scenes, but then he wants to look cool, get up in front of everyone and talk s**t. And I was so upset.’

In recent months Taylor has been getting more headlines than the games themselves as she has flown across the country supporting her man at his matches. 

With every game she attends, fans’ eyes have been firmly glued on her reactions from her suite and of those who have been celebrating around her. 

For the biggest night in American football, a host of celebrities descended upon the Vegas arena, including the likes of Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.

Yet not everyone made it into Taylor’s suite, with Beyonce – who is part of Taylor’s squad – opting to watch the game in a separate box alongside husband Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy. 

Also with them was the former Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. 

Last week I hopped on a big jet plane and headed to New York City. It was the start of a new year and I was looking for a big, glorious adventure – something that would bring my spark back after a year that felt a bit like groundhog day.

I love you guys from Sydney, but you guys aren't really doing it for me lately.

I didn't know I would be flying to the hottest city in the world. Huzzah!

I had promised myself to leave my ego, my overthinking brain and any form of hesitation behind in Sydney. When I landed, I was going to embrace my inner bravado and head out into a storm. No 'type' was off limits. White collar, blue collar, downtown, downtown, I wanted to meet them all.

I also wanted to avoid the apps because, as I've said before, they can be a total waste of time. Plus, I wanted to see if I could really make my own “meet-cute” moments happen.

I had no time to waste, I had seven days in this glorious city and I wanted to make them count.

The first sign that this city was a horndog of a city appeared as I was going through customs after a long 21 hour journey from Sydney to New York. It's safe to say I didn't look particularly appetizing, but when I handed over my passport and told the semi-handsome security guy where I was staying, he boldly exclaimed, 'Oh, that's right near me! Are you going to take me out for dinner?'.

Hello New York!

I was a little grumpy after my flight and had to deal with a grumpy driver via text message who threatened to leave me at the airport, so I barked “No!” and then ran to the exit.

Nevertheless, I vowed that the next time I was faced with a dating opportunity, I would be a little more open to the idea.

My next stumbling block was the weather; it was the coldest week in New York in recent memory. Sure, I packed thermals, a big winter coat, and a few pairs of jeans, but the rest of my wardrobe consisted of cute outfits that I thought would catch the eye of a New York gentleman or two.

Nevertheless, the next day I dressed up for brunch and a party with some girlfriends and wore a black miniskirt, stockings, black velvet knee-high boots, and a black turtleneck.

The bar was packed, because if there's one thing New Yorkers are particularly good at, it's brunch! I was thrilled to discover it was 50/50 men and women (a welcome change from the 90 percent women's ration of Sydney brunches), so I marveled.

I was thrilled to discover that the guys there are BIG fans of eye contact. There were flirty looks all around the bar, but by the time I worked up enough (rosé) courage to strike up a conversation, it was time to head to a party across town.

Now here was the next stumbling block. When we entered the bar, I saw that there were large TVs everywhere. It was the NFL playoffs and every guest at the bar was actively involved.

Seriously, I could have walked across the bar naked and not a single man would have noticed. Fortunately, the game was finally over and the men were fired up with post-game endorphins. (Go exercise!).

My friends and I were chatting with everyone, including a gentleman wearing a charming hat that said “Show Me That Butthole.”

Um, did I mention this city is hot?

I struck up a conversation with a handsome, bearded gentleman and found myself reliving my high school disco days as we walked in the corner as teenagers. Glorious.

Before long, jet lag hit me in the face like a brick wall, so I slipped and slid to a taxi.

The next morning I woke up to a few thirsty texts from the guy, but I wasn't here to date just one guy. So, after a day of looking around, I got dressed again and went to Pete Davidson's bar with a wonderful gay friend.

This time I didn't make the mistake of dressing like a shady fraudster. I had found a few articles saying that New York was all about “Mob Wife” fashion vibes this winter, so I put on a sexy red knit dress, gold hoops, the same black velvet boots, and a killer gangsterish cheetah printed jacket.

When I entered Pete's 'Pebble Bar' downtown, I was immediately struck by that BDE (big d**k energy) he is famous for. This bar was sexy! With large black leather booths, sleek retro wallpaper and red velvet lounge chairs, it was one big aphrodisiac of a bar.

It was in this bar that I discovered one reason why this is a hot city. Martinis. Very generous free-pour martinis. As my handsome boyfriend Andrew and I downed the dirty gin concoctions, I was ready to go for the primal.

Andrew left for a date and I decided to stay and chat with the locals. Within minutes I was sitting in the check box with the attendant flirting up a storm. As he took coats and I handed them the receipts, we chatted about life, love and the dating scene in each other's cities. It turns out that the men of New York are just as baffled when it comes to dating as us ladies.

I eventually said goodbye and ended it, but not before trading Instas for healthy flirting.

The next day I decided to treat myself to a day of shopping and a wonder around the Met, before popping into a bar (which looked suspiciously like the Cheers bar) for a glass of wine while I read my book.

Let me just say for the record that I didn't look cute. I had my big snow coat, a woolly hat and snow-soaked hair. It seemed I had waged a war with the weather and lost.

I wasn't there to pick up, so what happened next was a pleasant surprise. I was sitting at the bar and two men who could have been sitting anywhere in the empty bar sat next to me. I quickly ducked to the toilet to see if I could perk up my look and when I returned to the bar there was a hot cider and rum shot waiting next to my book.

I looked surprised and one of the men said to me, 'We noticed your Australian accent when you ordered your wine and we thought you were probably not used to this cold, so we thought this might warm you up'. Soft!

Even though I looked like a snow beast, the men of New York will still have a crack.

The next night I made an epic dating blunder, but in my defense, Your Honor, it honestly wasn't my fault.

I had been out to dinner with the same girls from brunch, and we decided to visit a bar that I discovered catered to New York's “finance brethren.”

It was here that I saw a Frenchman with a very handsome beard and decided to embrace my inner New York goddess and approach him. Within minutes we were chatting and drinking free martinis again. My friend was looking forward to his friend and so they were happy days.

Did he eventually come back to my hotel? Yes, yes, he did. After a really nice night I put it out and woke up to some very romantic French lyrics. Sweet.

Well, that was until my boyfriend called an hour later and revealed he was married. She heard about it from his friend that morning and rushed to tell me.

Gaaah. I was looking for adventure in New York, but not that kind of adventure.

Unusually, I chose not to confront him about it. I was leaving in a few days and decided to just block him and move on. Drama was not on my agenda.

A few days later I boarded the plane back to Sydney with a big smile on my face and the promise of bringing that hot dating culture back to Sydney.

If there's one thing I've learned from this journey, it's to just go for it. No need to swipe left and right. Just make eye contact, strike up a conversation at the bar or wear something quirky that you can start a conversation with.

The one thing New Yorkers don't do is overthink things. It's a numbers game and those numbers will occasionally be in your favor. Ladies, honestly, if you're craving some good old fashioned flirting in a city that can't get enough of an Aussie accent, you need to book that trip.

New York, you're a hot city, and I just can't get enough of you.

READ MORE: Dating expert reveals the top warning signs a guy isn't into you – and the CODEWORD they use when they don't want anything to do with you

Welcome to Britain’s longest and gloomiest month, made even more difficult by the phenomenon of Dry January.

According to the charity Alcohol Change UK, around 17 percent of adults will have stopped drinking in the first month of 2023.

But if you’re among the majority who don’t plan on going that route this year, go out of your way and book a boozy, guilt-free vacation.

WINE AND dine in RIOJA

Rioja’s vineyards are home to a number of architect-designed wineries, but the one that stands out is Frank Gehry’s hotel, Marques de Riscal.

The undulating metal roof panels cover 61 luxury rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a vinotherapy spa, where treatments utilize the healing power of the grape. The views are sublime, whether you’re sitting in a barrel bath gazing out at the vineyards, or on the roof terrace looking out over the medieval town of Elciego. There are also daily vineyard tours.

How to do that: Open from February, with B&B doubles from around £447 (marriott.com). Take the car ferry to Bilbao, a 90-minute drive away, with Brittany Ferries from £781, or from Portsmouth to Santander from £772 (brittany-ferries.co.uk).

GET CHEERFUL IN SHERRY

There’s nowhere better to stay in Jerez, the heart of Spain’s sherry industry, than at a hotel owned by the Tio Pepe winery. The boutique hotel in the historic center of the city (jerez means ‘sherry’ in Spanish) was created from a collection of houses where the winery’s employees used to live. It is part of the 200 year old bodega. Pretty patios and gardens are spread between the 27 rooms, some of which overlook the cathedral. For the best views, head to the roof terrace with pool and sherry bar, where you can enjoy a fino or a sherry cocktail as you watch the sunset.

How to do that: B&B doubles from approximately £117 (tiopepe.com). Tour and tasting costs around £18. Ryanair flies to Jerez from the end of March from £78 return or an hour’s drive to Seville (ryanair.com).

THE BOURBON TRAIL

With its 18 world-famous distilleries in and around Lexington and Louisville, and many more craft distilleries, Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail is a great theme for a trip. For a suitable pit stop, head to Log Still Distillery just outside Bardstown, the bourbon capital of the world. Discover the history of the family distillery and taste the corn-based whisky. Accommodations range from a traditional room with a wrought-iron bedstead in the Homestead Cottage, which overlooks the 30-acre lake, to a modern, rustic three-bedroom lodge with a wraparound terrace – the perfect place to enjoy a glass or two .

How to do that: Double rooms with a tour cost approximately £180 (logstilldistillery.com). Fly to Nashville with British Airways, from £508 return, and hire a car (ba.com).

MIX IT LIKE BORDEAUX

Chateau Pape Clement in Bordeaux, named after the man who first planted vines here in the 13th century before becoming pope, is a chic affair. The grand cru classe de graves wines are aged in a huge barrel-filled room, lit by chandeliers, while the grounds are filled with palm trees and cacti. There are just six elegant bedrooms, each fitted with silk wallpaper and rich fabrics. In fact, you can make your own wine by blending cabernet sauvignon and merlot to the desired level before adding cork, foil and your own label – a wine lover’s dream.

How to do that: B&B doubles from around £326, including tour and tasting. Winemaker course about £86 (chateau-pape-clement.fr). You can fly to Bordeaux or take the train, from £170 return (trainline.com).

GIN IS THE THING IN LONDON

If gin is your poison, you can’t go wrong at 186 Portobello Road, also known as The Distillery. The four-storey building in West London is completely dedicated to the spirit, starting with the basement distillery and copper stills. This is where they make their blends, and you can try it out for yourself. But if you’d rather just drink the stuff, there are cocktail bars upstairs. There are also three bedrooms, each with a vintage record player and a selection of vinyl.

How to do that: A room only doubles from £120, while a 90 minute masterclass costs £75pp (the-distillery.london).

PORTO’S WORLD OF PORT

The Yeatman Hotel is themed around the port wine lodges surrounding it in Porto’s Vila Nova de Gaia, from the carafe-shaped outdoor pool to the Wine Spa and even suites with barrel-shaped beds. But it’s been tastefully done, with each of the modern rooms looking out over the Douro River and the warren of houses in the old town. There’s something for everyone: take a quick dip into the world of the harbor at nearby Taylor’s (hotel owner), a guided tasting in Yeatman’s bulging wine cellars or get lost in the World Of Wine museum.

How to do that: B&B doubles from approximately £290 (the-yeatman-hotel.com). An introduction to port wine tasting costs around £43. Fly to Porto with Ryanair from £34 return (ryanair.com).

WINTER SALES FROM THE WINERY

You can get up to 40 percent off selected breaks at Three Choirs Vineyard in Gloucestershire before March 27. When the vine-covered slopes are covered in a cloak of frost, this 75-hectare estate is perhaps at its most beautiful. It is one of England’s oldest vineyards, dating back to 1973. It has eight modern rooms in the main house and three wooden lodges spread among the vineyards. After a winter stroll, return to enjoy tapas-inspired dishes in The Brasserie, with its oak barrels and wooden floors. Whether you prefer still or sparkling, white or red, they make it here, with wine tastings taking place from Wednesday to Friday.

How to do that: Room only doubles from £120. Wine tastings cost £20pp (driekoren-wijngaarden.co.uk).

SPARKLE IN CHAMPAGNELAND

There are numerous small champagne producers in the countryside around Reims and Epernay, some of whom run their own B&Bs. Among them is Le Logis Aux Bulles in the village of Verzy. The three rooms and shared sitting room have the feel of a boutique hotel and feature wine bottles as lighting, champagne photos on the wall – and one even has a champagne riddle as a headboard. A good breakfast will set you up for a day of tastings, starting with a glass of the Mouligneaux-Gourdain grand cru produced by the owners.

How to do that: B&B doubles from approximately £87. Tour and tasting approximately £6 (lelogisauxbulles.com). It is a three-hour drive from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais.

CIDER RULES IN SOMERSET

At The Newt in Somerset they celebrate apples the same way vineyards celebrate grapes. The extensive estate produces ciders from many of the 70 apple varieties in its 25 hectares of orchards. Take a tour of the Cyder Barn to see the production process and then taste the finished product alongside the dishes in the restaurant. Be sure to try the sourdough made with apple waste. Take walks in the deer park, visit the interactive museum and taste the wine produced at Newt’s sister hotel, Babylonstoren in South Africa. The rooms all include a minibar with Newt’s apple juice and cyder.

How to do that: B&B doubles from £520, including the tour and 12 months access to the estate (thenewtinsomerset.com).

ENJOY A WEE DRAM ON ISLAY

For single malt enthusiasts, Bowmore on the Isle of Islay has six cozy cottages for short breaks next to the traditional distillery on the banks of Loch Indaal.

All have been beautifully renovated, with everything from a one-bedroom hideaway for a romantic getaway to a six-bedroom great room perfect for gathering the clan.

Choose the distillery tour that suits your wallet – whether that’s a simple stone warehouse tour with a barrel tasting for £65, or a rare whiskey tasting for £500.

How to do that: Three nights self-catering in a cottage for four costs from £525 (bowmore.com).

Take the ferry from Kennacraig to Islay for £15pp return (calmac.co.uk) or fly from Glasgow from £130 return (loganair.co.uk).