Six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer from beautiful beach resorts to affordable luxe hotels
Thomas Cook has reported a ten per cent year-on-year increase in bookings for far-flung breaks and recent research from holiday operator On The Beach found getaways to Europe could easily set you back more than to farther afield.
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We have six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer
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On The Beach's Zoe Harris said: 'The gap between
So, why not save your pennies and ditch your favourite sunshine spot for somewhere new and maybe even more exotic?
Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of
KANDY, SRI LANKA
SAVE around £500, if you swap a £1,200pp holiday on the Greek island of Santorini for a £769pp seven-night adventure at the 4* Radisson Hotel in the mountainous city of Kandy.
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The 4* Radisson Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka
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Carved into the hillside, the resort's modern and simple bedrooms come with lush views of tropical greenery.
Going with a breakfast-only package means you can tuck into plates of fresh fruit piled on top of hot waffles and thick yoghurt before setting off for a day exploring the beautiful country.
Kandy is the cultural capital of the island and is littered with intricately decorated temples.
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: Seven nights' B&B costs from £769pp including flights from
Airline to launch new bunk beds in economy on long-haul flights next yea
Orlando, US
THRILLSEEKERS should look to Florida instead of Europe for their summer break this year.
The
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The 3* Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista is just 15 minutes from Disney World
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But if you were to head to Paris – home to the European Disneyland – at the same time of year, you'd struggle to bag a TUI package for less than £1,000pp.
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You can use the cash you have saved on travel costs to pay a visit to
When you are not being thrown upside down on a roller-coaster, the palm tree-laden ES Suites is the perfect place to relax with barbecue grills in the gardens, for guests to use.
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: Seven nights' self-catering costs from £759pp based on two sharing a one-bedroom apartment and includes flights from Gatwick on 15. See tui.co.uk.
DUBAI, UAE
THE glittering skyscrapers of Dubai are easier than ever to reach, and you could save a fair whack by heading here for around £700pp instead of Spain's Marbella, where a week's break in July can cost upwards of £1,000pp.
Well positioned – less than a five-minute drive from cultural sites like the Jumeirah Mosque and under ten minutes from glam beach clubs like Nikki Beach – the 4* Jumeira Rotana is an ideal base for first-timers.
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The 4* Jumeira Rotana is an ideal base for first-timers in Dubai
Temperatures can reach 40C in summer, but don't let that put you off, as many of the city's top attractions are air-conditioned.
Make your way to the top of the
Or, if you really need to cool down, head to Ski Dubai, with 22,500 square metres of ski slopes.
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: Seven nights' B&B costs from £723pp including flights from Manchester on July 2. See travelsupermarket.com.
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PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REP
WHEN it comes to fly-and-flop breaks, you may want to consider opting for the
A 4* break in Mykonos will cost £2,700pp in June, much more than this On The Beach deal to Punta Cana for £739pp.
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The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast
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The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast, where temperatures reach a balmy 32C towards the end of this month.
Expect white-sand beaches overlooking turquoise waters, cocktails and a cushioned cabana shaded by palms.
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This place has everything within easy reach.
There's an outdoor pool, private beach, casino, poolside bar, watersports centre, a la carte restaurant, beach volleyball, spa and more.
And with an all-inclusive package, the only thing you need to focus on is topping up your tan.
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: Seven nights' all-inclusive costs from £739pp including flights from Gatwick on June 21. See onthebeach.co.uk.
MUSCAT, OMAN
IF you are a fan of Dubai, but want somewhere more affordable, the Middle Eastern gem of Oman is the UAE's laid-back sister.
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A 5* luxury holiday at the Sheraton Oman Hotel, will only set you back £669pp.
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Enjoy 5* luxury at the Sheraton Oman Hotel for just £669pp
This price is staggeringly low if you compare it with a stay in a European Sheraton hotel – a package for its Mallorca hotel during the same week is just shy of £1,200pp with British Airways.
Muscat is a great spot for culture vultures – home to winding souks crammed with spices, breathtakingly beautiful mosques that shimmer in the sun and golden sand dunes stretching for miles.
Make sure to take advantage of the hotel's outdoor Courtyard Oasis, crammed with tropical plants, a restaurant and the spa – which claims to be one of the best in Oman.
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: Seven nights' B&B costs from £669pp including flights from Heathrow on July 8. See loveholidays.com
KHAO LAK, THAILAND
WE'VE all got White Lotus fever.
But instead of visiting Sicily (where the second series was filmed), head to Thailand (the location for series three) to bag a proper bargain.
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The 4* The Leaf On The Sands in Khao Lak, Thailand
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A seven-night TUI package at the 4* The Leaf On The Sands, by Katathani costs just over £800pp, while a holiday in a 4* hotel in Sicily, during the same week, could set you back about £1,000pp or more.
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Surrounded by tropical greenery, in the beach resort region of Khao Lak, a little north of Phuket, The Leaf On The Sands offers two swimming pools where you can catch the rays while listening to birdsong.
Do not get too comfy, though, as there is so much adventure waiting – treks through the Lam Ru National Park, trips to the Wat Suwan Khuha Temple or snorkelling around a shipwreck.
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: Seven nights' B&B is from £838pp including flights from Heathrow on September 11. See tui.co.uk.
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The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Travel alert for Irish holidaygoers as two holiday hotspots declared ‘disaster zones' amid horror wildfires
IRISH holidaygoers have been hit with a major travel warning as wildfires engulf two popular holiday spots. Both Advertisement 5 Greece has been engulfed by wildfires for weeks Credit: AP 5 Holidaymakers might want to rethink their plans Credit: Reuters Earlier today it was announced that at least 13 people have been One of the deceased was a firefighter trying to tame the blaze. Meanwhile, more than 1,700 Turkish civilians have been forced to flee their The regions of Bursa, Karabuk, Usak, and Kahramanmaras are still affected. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL And multiple " Adana, Mersin, Eskisehir and nearby Karabuk are all practically no-go zones. Amid the chaos, Irish jetsetters will likely want to rethink their Each summer, thousands of Advertisement Most read in News Travel But those travelling to the popular destinations are warned to check the fire status of the location before making their way there. And those with a holiday to Greece planned have been hit with a travel alert from the Huge wildfires spreads across Athens and two popular Greek islands as thousands are evacuated The department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Trade recently issued a statement regarding the wildfires in Greece. Although there are no travel restrictions in place, visitors have been urged to follow local authority guidelines. Advertisement The DFA said: "Greece is currently facing several wildfires following high summer temperatures and subsequent heatwaves. "The risk of wildfires is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. "In the case of a wildfire, the authorities will issue notifications regarding evacuations via the 112 message service to all mobile phones in the area. "These will be provided in both English and Greek, and we would ask citizens to follow any advice received from local authorities. Advertisement "Stay fully informed of what is going on by monitoring local news and social media. "Call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if in immediate danger." And the popular island of Santorini will be under a series o safety measures until October. Once again holidaygoers have been told to follow the island's local authority guidelines. Advertisement 5 The Government has given a major travel alert for Greece Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 At least 13 people have been killed Credit: AP 5 Tens of thousands had been forced to evacuate their homes Credit: Reuters
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Hotel prices go Supersonic: Oasis fans pay the price
As excitement builds for the long-awaited Oasis reunion concert in Dublin next month, fans are facing the harsh reality of soaring hotel prices that rival the cost of a concert ticket - or more. For many, the return of the Gallagher brothers will be music to their ears, but the price of a pillow in the capital that weekend could leave them singing a very different tune. With thousands expected to descend on the city for the event, accommodation costs have surged to eye-watering levels for Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th of August. How much are rooms? Most hotels in Dublin city centre are charging upwards of €400 per night for a standard room - more than double the usual rate. The Irish Hotels Federation has admitted that many hotels do hike prices when availability is limited. "With regard to supply and demand issues, there are times when locations experience significant increases in demand, around major events, and this can result in price increases," a spokesperson for the IHF said. "For last availability, this is a common occurrence in other industries such as airlines for example if you're booking one of the last seats on a plane, the price may reflect this." The IHF said many of the prices listed online are last minute prices, and are not reflective of the "overall value which most fans will already have availed of when booking." However, many hotels are offering cheaper last minute prices for this weekend, than they are for the Oasis dates in August. One popular five-star hotel is charging over €1,800 per night for a small queen room for the Oasis weekend, excluding breakfast. That same room is available for €700 per night this weekend. Meanwhile, a four-star hotel in the city centre is charging €537 per night for a standard king room on concert nights, again excluding breakfast, while their rate this weekend is over €200 lower. Forced out of the city? The IHF points to lower prices available outside of the city centre in places like City West, Clondalkin, Swords and Tallaght. If you're willing to travel, you can bag a room for under €250 a night that weekend. However, concert goers would have to fork out extra for transport to and from these locations, some of which are an hour drive away from Croke Park. "It is very common for sell-out of near-capacity nights for visitors to stay in accommodation that is not within the city centre itself," the IHF argued. Do other cities around the world bump up prices? A report carried out by Fáilte Ireland reveals that Irish hotels are not alone when it comes to price hikes around big events. "Dublin is not atypical with respect to room rate 'premiums' during big events," the report finds. "Cities across the world typically exhibit similar pricing patterns." For example, the report looks at Bruce Springsteen's 2023 European tour concert in Dublin on May 5th where hotel occupancy surpassed 90% and the average daily rate was above €250. Hotel 'premiums' were also recorded on tour dates right across Europe. While these varied by location, Dublin still had higher room prices than cities like Birmingham, Copenhagen and Hamburg. Are booking platforms more expensive? On popular platform 85% of hotel rooms in Dublin were booked out for the Oasis weekend at the time of writing this article. Many people will book through such platforms, hoping to save time and money. However, the IHF recommends booking directly with hotels to get better value, stating that rates on include "very substantial" commissions. A quick search on the website of one four-star hotel just outside the city centre reveals that room prices are €40 cheaper when booking directly. However, this is not always the case. Any tips for finding the best deals? The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission pointed out that the same rules apply to hotel bookings as to any other online purchase. "Pay close attention to make sure you're on a legitimate website," said Grainne Griffin, consumer expert and Director of Communications at the CCPC. "Booking platforms are great for comparing lots of options at once but make sure it is based in the EU in case anything goes wrong. "Also, it's always worth approaching the hotel directly before you make the purchase to see if they will offer you a better price for booking directly," she added. Ms Griffin said to check the terms and conditions for the booking carefully and consider the worst case scenario - "If the concert was cancelled, would you be entitled to a refund?" Similar to the advice of the IHF, the CCPC suggests considering hotels outside of the city centre for lower prices. "Even if you need to factor in the cost of a taxi back after the concert this could still be a better deal," she said. Transport for Ireland have a taxi fare estimator which can help you work out costs. One thing's for sure, if you've yet to plan your accommodation, book smart and fast - or you might just look back in anger.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I visited Greece's biggest island with olive oil shots, TUI hotels and restaurants with free desserts
I KNOCK back my glass, swirling the golden liquid around in my mouth before swallowing. It tastes very smooth at first, then comes a subtle bitterness that catches the back of the throat as it slides down — this is a sign of a high quality extra virgin olive oil, I'm told. Advertisement 7 Hersonissos in the north of Crete, Greece Credit: Getty 7 Relax with a gong bathing session on floating aqua boards Credit: Mark Hodge/Supplied I'm not surprised it's so good. After all, I am standing in the birthplace of Greek olive oil: I'd booked my excursion through National Geographic, which offers small guided tours to the family-run Agno. The business owns thousands of trees spread across 40 different sites, where olives are hand-picked and processed into oil in less than six hours, ensuring the freshest, highest-quality product possible. Unsurprisingly, their oil has been awarded first prize by the International Extra Virgin Olive Oil organisation — which is a bit like winning the Champions League, but for salad dressing. Advertisement Read More on Travel Nearly 900,000 Brits holidayed in Crete last year, sampling its mix of During my visit, I enjoyed a delicious three-course meal with wine for just £19 per head and stayed in a five-star hotel which, including flights, set me back a breezy £855 for a week all-inclusive. I was staying at the TUI Blue Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace Hotel which caters for both lazy sun-worshippers and holidaymakers who demand an endless choice of stimulating activities. The sprawling property has wine tasting and cooking demonstrations along with fitness and wellness classes, enabling guests to burn off calories just as easily as piling them on. Advertisement Most read in Beach holidays Exclusive I embraced it all from day one, kicking off my holiday with a gong bathing session. I was instructed to wear swim shorts and head to the pool area, where floating aqua boards were awaiting. Secret hack for free dessert Laying down on the board, I shut my eyes while the instructor at the edge of the pool softly banged the gong, lulling me into a 45-minute slumber. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival Yes, it may sound silly, but the experience was pure bliss. I've never felt such profound relaxation. Juicy lamb chops The following day, still in a sleepy state, I was reluctantly dragged (or not) to a wine tasting session, another activity on the Tui Blue programme. Advertisement I learned how wine making in Crete dates back thousands of years, with producers now selling their product around the world. My favourite was Viavano Gavalas — a white wine using a grape that can only be found in Crete. It's aged in oak barrels and has a smooth, creamy flavour which goes well with meat and fish. You can pick a bottle up online for as little as £10. Advertisement I also had the privilege of attending a cooking class while I was here, accompanied by one of the hotel's chefs who hails from Crete. We learned how to create some classic The dish is made by mixing shredded cucumber, crushed garlic, fresh herbs and salt in yogurt before adding red wine vinegar and olive oil. If you're not into cooking your own food, the hotel's all-inclusive package includes access to two buffet restaurants as well as its Oregano Greek Tavern and a Tex Mex joint. Advertisement After taking advantage of all the excellent dishes, I was feeling even more grateful for my swim-up suite, which enabled me to jump into the hotel's meandering pool straight from my balcony. I could have spent an entire week without leaving the Atlantica Caldera Palace Hotel, but it was worth tearing myself away for a brief visit to Hersonissos, on the east side of the island and about 20 minutes' drive from the city of Heraklion. 7 The Sun's Mark Hodge surrounded by booze and corks during a wine tasting Credit: Mark Hodge/Supplied 7 Tuck into traditional dishes at tavernas in the Old City Square Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 The well equipped rooms at Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace Hotel Credit: christos drazos The pretty Old Town is an ideal place to spend a day, strolling in the historic streets flanked by old stone buildings and brimming with little restaurants serving properly authentic cuisine. I somehow found room in my second stomach for a meal at Sofas restaurant, where tables are spread across the bustling village square. On top of flavour-packed mezze dishes like vine leaves and fried squid, I tucked into juicy lamb chops and chicken kebabs barbecued to perfection. Advertisement When the waiters asked about a third course, we waved our napkins like white flags, admitting surrender. But little did we know that in doing so, we had unlocked a secret Cretan dining hack: Free dessert. Without saying a word, the staff delivered a selection of puddings including a lemon tart topped with a blow-torched meringue as well as a chocolate, caramel and peanut pastry. Apparently it's a common tradition across the island — a bit like the limoncello shots dished out for free in Italy. Advertisement Best of all, this hearty meal set us back only £38pp. What a bargain. After a week in Crete, my stomach really was ready to surrender. But this time, my napkin remained firmly in my lap. GO: CRETE STAYING/GETTING THERE: Seven nights' all-inclusive at the 5H TUI BLUE Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace is from £843.58pp, including flights from Birmingham on October 16 or from £1,206pp including flights from East Midlands on August 28. See National Geographic tours can be booked through TUI Musement. A western Crete with winery and olive oil tour costs from £59 per adult and £30 per child. See 7 Mark enjoys a cooking lesson at the hotel Credit: Mark Hodge/Supplied 7 Tuck into Greek favourites like tzatziki, a yoghurt mezze dish Credit: Getty Advertisement
