We felt like royalty, say lucky Sun Savers readers who won ultimate Dubai holiday in our competition
THE Sun not only saves you money, but we give prizes that change lives.
Last month, 20 lucky Sun Savers and their partners won the ultimate holiday to Dubai with Travel Republic.
On the trip, they had a desert safari, flew in a hot air balloon, visited Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis The Palm, watched Matilda The Musical at Dubai Opera house and partied on a yacht with celeb DJ Mark Wright.
Sun Savers is our rewards club, giving you the chance to win cash, redeem great offers and bag brilliant prizes.
To win our holiday, readers just had to collect Sun Savers codes printed in the newspaper.
Here, some of the winners look back on their fantastic break.
- THANKS to our brilliant partners: Travel Republic, Arabian Adventures, NH Collection Dubai The Palm, Balloon Adventures Dubai, Aquaventure, En Fuego, City Sightseeing Dubai and Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah.
‘What a great time… I felt like I was royalty’
KOREAN War veteran Stuart Adey and his wife Patricia, 83, nearly didn’t go on their Sun prize holiday to Dubai.
But Stuart, from Sheffield, is glad he did because he celebrated his 90th birthday on a yacht in the sun-kissed Middle East.
Stuart, who served in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, says: “I’m getting on and it felt a long way to go.
“So I rang The Sun to say they should give it to someone else, but then we decided it was such an opportunity we should go.
“I had three celebrations over there and two cakes. It’s probably the only birthday I’ll have on a yacht too. It was so lovely having everyone sing me happy birthday. I felt like royalty.
“We could never afford a holiday like that and every second of it was magical.
“I loved visiting the waterpark and it’s been decades since either of us went to a club.
“I never drink at home, but it was lovely enjoying some wine with dinner and nice cold beers when it was really hot.”
Stuart and Patricia, who have been married for 52 years, say they both came back changed people thanks to their incredible experience.
He says: “It was honestly so much fun. Everyone we went with was so lovely.”
‘The holiday was brill, I can’t wait to go back’
GARY BENNETT thought the email telling him he had won a holiday to Dubai was a scam – so he ignored it.
But eventually the 58-year-old, of Glossop, Derbyshire, realised it was genuine after being told to call The Sun.
Gary decided to take his pal Barry Thorley, 50, and the pair had the best holiday of their lives.
He says: “The party on the yacht was amazing. Mark Wright was DJing, the food was incredible, the view of Dubai from the water was so beautiful. It was just like we were VIPs.”
That special treatment extended to the Aquaventure waterpark too.
Gary says: “We had priority passes and nothing was too much trouble.
“The whole holiday and all the people on it were simply brilliant. I’d love to go back.
“I’ll keep entering Sun competitions and hope I’m lucky again.”
‘We had champagne at sunset. It was magical’
PARTNERS Zoe Price and Emily Berry had booked a Sun Hol From £9.50 getaway to Clacton when they scooped our fantastic trip to Dubai.
So they sent family on the Essex break in their place and flew out to the United Arab Emirates with our other lucky Sun Savers winners.
For bank worker Zoe, dune bashing with Arabian Adventures was the highlight of their overseas trip.
She says: “The views were just incredible. Then, when we stopped and had canapes and champagne as the sun went down and the stars came out, it was just magical.”
Zoe, from March, Cambs, loves reading and Emily always enters Sun competitions.
She says: “I always used to tease Emily about entering the competitions, but neither of us could believe it when she won.
“It is such an incredible country. Everyone there was so lovely and the rest of the winners are all great too.
“It was just magical from start to finish and we can’t thank The Sun enough.”
‘We were able to let our hair down. Fantastic’
PLANT nursery worker Adam Fowler, 28, and fiancée Sophie Kirtley are saving for their wedding and cannot afford a dream holiday.
Sophie, 27, says: “I’m a travel agent so I was sure it was a scam when we got the invite.
“It was only when we got the booking details with references on we actually believed we were going.”
The holiday proved awesome for the couple from Wisbech, Cambs.
Sophie says: “We usually have weekend breaks away in this country. And we don’t really go out much because we’re saving.
“So to have been able to be treated the way we were and let our hair down and have so much fun was amazing. We’re so lucky we won.
“We’re not the type of people who thought we’d ever enjoy champagne and canapes in the desert. It honestly felt so surreal.
“We wanted the moment to last for ever. Adam always does the Sun Savers competitions and I thought it was a waste of time.
“It still feels like it was a dream, even though we have the pictures.”