Six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer from beautiful beach resorts to affordable luxe hotels
HOLIDAYMAKERS are hungry for long-haul getaways this year – and it is no surprise, considering the soaring costs in popular European hotspots.
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.
Advertisement
7
We have six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer
Credit: Shutterstock
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.
Advertisement
7
The 4* Radisson Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Credit: supplied
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.
Advertisement
GO
: 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
7
The 3* Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista is just 15 minutes from Disney World
Credit: supplied
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.
Advertisement
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.
GO
: 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.
Advertisement
7
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.
GO
: Seven nights' B&B costs from £723pp including flights from Manchester on July 2. See travelsupermarket.com.
Advertisement
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.
7
The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast
Credit: supplied
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.
Advertisement
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.
GO
: 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.
Advertisement
A 5* luxury holiday at the Sheraton Oman Hotel, will only set you back £669pp.
7
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.
Advertisement
GO
: 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.
7
The 4* The Leaf On The Sands in Khao Lak, Thailand
Credit: supplied
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.
Advertisement
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.
GO
: Seven nights' B&B is from £838pp including flights from Heathrow on September 11. See tui.co.uk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Island nation nine times larger than UK banned from World Cup as statement released
GREENLAND'S hopes of playing competitive football on the world stage were dashed when the country was told it cannot join the confederation that also represents the Caribbean. The Arctic territory of Denmark started exploring entry to Concacaf — which covers North and Central America — three years ago. Advertisement 3 Incredible playing views, like this one in Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island, couldn't help Greenland get accepted Credit: Alamy 3 Football is hugely popular in the vast island nation Credit: Getty With a route into Uefa blocked, the Confederation that also includes the sun-kissed Caribbean was seen as the only alternative for the world's largest island, which is mostly covered with ice and has a population of just 57,000. Incredibly the country has 5,500 registered players. But Concacaf's ruling committee killed off the Polar Teddy Bears' dream at its Congress. A statement said their membership application had been reviewed and 'unanimously rejected'. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Greenland is the world's largest island and bigger than western Europe, but 81% of its land is topped by sheet ice. And it has never played official international football. Although it is a sovereign territory of Denmark, its considered to be part of North America geographically. Joining Uefa was a no-no - as European football chiefs only accept countries formally recognised by the United Nations. Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking 3 Such breathtaking sights still won't host official international matches Credit: Alamy BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Greenland have played friendlies - but they are NOT sanctioned by football's world rulers Fifa. And now Concacaf have declined to help the country, which is nine times larger than the UK, make the next major step forward. Advertisement The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will see the World's best players decide which club is the greatest The organisation said in a statement: "Based on a thorough assessment conducted by the Concacaf administration and Council, and in accordance with the Concacaf Statutes, the Member Associations reviewed the membership application submitted by the Greenlandic Football Association and unanimously rejected it." It comes with US President Donald Trump claiming he wants his country to take control of Greenland. But the the ice-covered nation, as well as Denmark, insist there is no chance of that happening.
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
A guided bus and walking tour of Sligo's rich Neolithic landscape has been organised by the county council
European Archaeology Days 2025 is a celebration of archaeology that takes place from 13-15 of June this year. Over 5,000 events will take place across 30 European countries. European Archaeology Days are coordinated by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) and are co-ordinated in Ireland by The Heritage Council. The Sligo tour will be guided by Dr. Robert Hensey, Project Coordinator with Sligo County Council for the Sligo World Heritage Site bid. The event will take place on Friday 13th June 2025 at 10.30am (duration approx. 3 hours). Meeting at Sligo Retail Park, Carraroe. The tour will involve travel by bus and a guided walk at selected locations. Walking boots and weather appropriate clothing, fluids and snacks required. Please note that dogs are note permitted. While the event is free of charge, places are strictly limited (Max. 25), and booking is essential via Eventbrite.
Irish Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Campaign grows for Ireland to get another public holiday, honouring St Colmcille
Ireland could get another public holiday if proposals to have our third patron saint granted a day in his memory go through. Following the addition of St Brigid's Day in 2023, we now enjoy 10 public holidays. Our third national saint after St Patrick and St Brigid is St Colmcille – and a campaign to have a public holiday named after him is growing. Donegal County Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh proposed a motion for the local authority to ask the Government to establish a new public holiday in honour of St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba. On the saint's feast day yesterday, he said: "Ireland is two days behind the European average of 12 public. "St Colmcille is Ireland's third patron saint but isn't recognised with a public holiday. We're looking to even that up." St Colmcille was born near Lifford, in Donegal in 521AD and established over 50 Christian sites throughout Ireland. Despite the addition of St Brigid's Day, the Irish tally remains lower than the EU average of 12. For example, France has 12 this year, while Spain and Portugal both have 13. Public holidays, which are sometimes called a bank holiday, commemorate a special day or other event. Most businesses and schools close, while services like public transport operate with reduced schedules. In Ireland, the 10 days are New Year's Day, St Brigid's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, May Day, the June Bank Holiday, the August Bank Holiday, the October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St Stephen's Day. Good Friday is not a public holiday, but it is a bank holiday, meaning some businesses do close, although workers are not legally entitled to a day off. There have been several proposals for extra public holidays in Ireland, with a Government taskforce for the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-23 having considered an off-peak public holiday date. It said this would "create additional domestic high spending short break demand and would extend the tourism season." In 2021 Senator Fiona O'Loughlin called for one to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show. The then-Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said at the time that there were discussions about having a public holiday in February, March or November. Last year, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) called for two more public holidays in Ireland and said: "The minimum number of public holidays should be the EU average of 12." In January, People Before Profit proposed two extra holidays for the last Mondays of September and November. A spokesman said: "Workers in Ireland are still lagging behind their European counterparts. "Ireland has 10 public holidays. In contrast, Germany and Sweden have 13 paid public holidays, Italy has 14 and Austria has 15." Dublin City University's Dr Brenda Daly, who is an Associate Professor of Law, last month called for more public holidays. She said: "I certainly would advocate that there is a benefit to it." A Department of Enterprise spokesperson said. "Any proposal for the provision of another public holiday would require very careful consideration, including on the additional costs this would impose on employers." The idea of a day off in Ireland was introduced in 1871, when the country was still under British rule. After independence, the Bank Holidays Act was replaced by the Public Holidays Act 1924. The Government has the authority under Article 28 of the 1922 Constitution to proclaim a new holiday. In a letter to the Government, Mr Kavanagh wrote: "The June Bank Holiday could be renamed in honour of St Colmcille, but that wouldn't solve Ireland having less public holidays than the rest of Europe. "We could go for a new public holiday on the first Monday in July. We don't have a public holiday in July. "St Colmcille's story is a great story. "I think it would be an excellent bank holiday. "We hope the Government will look at the proposal."
