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The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
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. On The Beach's Zoe Harris said: 'The gap between long-haul prices and short-haul has decreased and the idea of a new, far-out destination is clearly pulling a lot of Brits, hence why bookings are up.' 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 long-haul holiday s for short-haul prices . . . 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. Sri Lanka, where coconut palms line the roads and wild elephants roam freely, is often reserved for special occasions, but with prices like this, it doesn't need to be. 7 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. GO: Seven nights' B&B costs from £769pp including flights from Heathrow on September 8. 2025. See Orlando, US THRILLSEEKERS should look to Florida instead of Europe for their summer break this year. The Disney parks are just 15 minutes by car from the 3* Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista, where a week costs less than £800pp with TUI. 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. You can use the cash you have saved on travel costs to pay a visit to Epic Universe, the first new theme park to come to Orlando in 25 years. 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 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. 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 Burj Khalifa skyscraper to soak up the best views of the skyline. 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 PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REP WHEN it comes to fly-and-flop breaks, you may want to consider opting for the Dominican Republic over the Greek islands. 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, 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. 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 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. A 5* luxury holiday at the Sheraton Oman Hotel, will only set you back £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. 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 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. 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
Travel Daily News
26-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Travel intent to U.S. remains below 2024 levels
A new analysis by Mabrian reveals a softening in travel intent to the U.S. up to September 2025 among key outbound markets, including Europe, the GCC, and Australia, compared to 2024. The data highlights growing uncertainty among long-haul travellers and a more cautious approach to planning trips to the U.S. that affects the country's competitive positioning as a destination. BARCELPONA, SPAIN – A new analysis by Mabrian, the travel intelligence platform, reveals a softening in global travel intent to the United States for 2025 among key inbound markets, with demand levels remaining below those recorded in 2024. The findings are based on Mabrian's proprietary Share of Searches Index, which measures the demand market share positioning of the United States, based on the spontaneous global flight search behaviour as an indicator of travel interest. Covering the period from January to April 2025, with travel dates extending through September, the study tracks millions of weekly flight searches to the U.S. from Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Australia. The Share of Searches Index* indicates that travel intent to the U.S. has dropped moderately year-over-year across all markets analysed. European Union countries (EU 27) experienced a moderate -0.3 percentage point decline, while Australia and GCC countries both recorded a significant -0.5 percentage point decrease compared to the same period in 2024. 'In the context of millions of searches, these variations represent meaningful shifts in traveller sentiment and intention,' explains Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group. The performance of the Share of Searches Index highlights the sensitivity of the travellers' demand from all the inbound markets analysed. 'Rather than a lack of interest in visiting the U.S., our travel intent data highlights long-haul travellers' growing uncertainty about planning trips well in advance, with booking lead times readjusting toward shorter planning horizons,' says Cendra. 'It is precisely during the planning phase that the U.S. is in risk of losing competitive ground, as travellers might be considering alternative destinations'. Moderate decrease in travel intent in Europe's key inbound markets As it happened after January 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration, the tariffs announcement from last April impacted European inspirational demand, still below 2024 levels in the period analysed. By the end of April, the U.S. captured 5.5% of the total flight searches launched by the EU 27 countries during the period analysed. This compound Share of Searches Index fluctuated throughout the period analysed, taking a moderate decrease, averaging -0.3 percentage points year-over-year. British demand, while initially impacted, showed signs of recovering by briefly surpassing last year's levels in mid-March, but in early April, after tariffs were announced by Trump Administration, inspirational demand dropped again -0.8 percentage points year-over-year (moderate decrease). By the end of April, Share of Searches Index settled at 8.1% indicating a weak recovery trend that might benefit from the bilateral agreement on tariffs between the both the UK and the U.S. announced on May 8th. Average Share of Searches Index for Germany, Italy, and France settles around 4.7% by end of April. Germany and Italy each recorded significant decrease nearing -1 percentage point compared to 2024 after the U.S. government updated their tariffs policy, an announcement that had a similar effect in France. In fact. French travel intent, that was converging to 2024 levels, to slightly drop again by mid-April, accumulating a -0.5% percentage points moderate decrease year-over-year during the weeks analysed. Uncertainty in the GCC's and a mixed outlook for Australia Even though it is not still among the most demanded destinations by Gulf Arab countries, the U.S. concentrates 1.7% of the total flight searches launched by these countries between February and April, and overall inspirational demand remains below 2024 levels, showing a significant decrease of -0.5 percentage points year over year. The Share of Searches Index shows that travel demand from the United Arab Emirates dropped weekly by -0.75 percentage points on average, a significant decrease considering that, by end of April, the U.S. market share in the UAE settled to 2.1%. Also, by the end of April, 0.9% of flight searches from Saudi Arabia aimed at the U.S., dropping a significant average of -0.3 percentage points year over year. Finally, and while Australian demand to the U.S. has consistently trailed 2024 levels since February 2025, the last week of April saw the first positive year-over-year shift in ten weeks. The Search of Searches Index increased by +0.3 percentage points, reaching 3.5%, signalling a moderate recovery that will require monitoring in the weeks ahead. * Mabrian's Share of Searches Index is proprietary index that reflects the strength of travel demand to a destination based on the global flight searches behaviour. Mabrian's assessment of the Share of Searches Index performance applies a three-point scale for increase or decrease (minor, moderate, significant), based on the magnitude of percentage point variations and their relative impact on the overall index value.
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Travel + Leisure
19-05-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
Air New Zealand Just Unveiled Its Retrofitted Fleet—With a New Business Cabin and Upgrades to Economy
As a New Zealander living in New York, I often say that flying home is one of the most emotional parts of the journey. That first breath of clean Antipodean air, the warmth of familiar accents, the landscapes that still take your breath away no matter how many times you've seen them. But for those yet to make the trip, Air New Zealand has long offered more than just transportation. It's a preview of the country's character: welcoming, thoughtful, and quietly world-class. On May 19, Air New Zealand launched its newly retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. This isn't merely a fleet upgrade, as it's a bold reimagining of what long-haul travel can look and feel like. More than five years and 170,000 hours in the making, the project is an example of how an airline can embody the spirit of its homeland at 35,000 feet. It also reflects how the carrier is propelling itself—and by extension, the country—on the global stage in a future-focused way. 'Given our geographical location, the majority of our customers travel overnight to reach New Zealand,' Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran told Travel + Leisure . 'With this in mind, we've designed our new cabins to prioritize rest and comfort to help ensure an exceptional inflight experience.' That ethos, he added, has been 'guided by the features premium travelers value most'—and it's reflected in every touchpoint. From the moment travelers step onboard, they're immersed in the essence of New Zealand. Every detail—from the calming natural tones of the cabin, echoing the country's lush native bush and the iridescent plumage of the tui bird, to the tactile finishes—is crafted to evoke the beauty and tranquility of New Zealand. The inflight experience is equally evocative. Amenity kits feature skincare inspired by traditional Māori herbal practices, and the menus are a culinary showcase of indigenous flavors. Think smoked kahawai mousse with confit potato or beef short rib with black truffle, capped with a passionfruit pavlova—an authentic representation of cuisine found on local dinner tables. 'We believe we've created something that customers will love, with an interior design inspired by the uniqueness of Aotearoa New Zealand,' Foran said. 'This new cabin blends comfort and privacy, and when paired with Air New Zealand's world-class Kiwi hospitality, it amounts to a standout offering.' A passenger in the new Economy seats. The retrofitted Dreamliners are as smart as they are stylish. Every cabin features a new inflight entertainment system with larger 4K screens, Bluetooth audio pairing, and the ability to use personal devices as remotes. Sustainability, a rising concern for travelers and the aviation industry alike, has been a significant consideration throughout the project. 'We're focused on minimizing impact as much as possible, and this includes increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and making our fleet as fuel-efficient as possible,' Foran said. The new cabins feature lighter, more sustainable materials—such as fabrics replacing leather—and serviceware that's up to 20 percent lighter, all contributing to reduced emissions. The airline is also exploring ways to repurpose materials removed during the retrofit, underscoring its commitment to a circular economy and a net-zero carbon future by 2050. The Business Premier Luxe seats. At the heart of the retrofit is Air New Zealand's new Business Premier cabin, a product of extensive research and customer insight. As Foran explained, 'It is important to us to develop products that are exactly what our customers want, which is why we have carried out extensive research while developing our new cabin.' The Business Premier seats are designed to bring ease and elegance to even the longest flights: lie-flat beds, enhanced privacy, wireless charging, and 24-inch high-resolution monitors. For those seeking an extra level of exclusivity, the Business Premier Luxe experience delivers just that. Positioned in the front row and limited to four per aircraft, these seats offer additional space, a privacy door, and, for the first time on Air New Zealand, the option to dine with a companion at altitude. The new Premium Economy seats on board. Air New Zealand hasn't limited its innovation to the front of the plane. 'With the rise of ultra-long-haul travel, we are seeing greater demand for premium cabins; however, we've also made sure we cater to a diverse range of customer preferences,' Foran said. The refreshed economy cabin now offers up to five different seating options, including the popular Skycouch and, from 2026, the world's first Skynest, a bunk-bed concept for economy passengers. Premium Economy has also been reimagined, featuring one of the largest seats in the industry at 41 inches, with enhanced privacy, clever storage, and lighting designed for comfort without disturbing neighbors. As the retrofitted Dreamliners prepare for takeoff, Air New Zealand is setting a new benchmark for what it means to fly long-haul. (In my case, 18 hours from JFK-AKL.) As someone who has flown nearly every major international airline, I can say with certainty that Air New Zealand consistently offers one of the most thoughtful and gracious flying experiences in the world—not just in the premium cabins, but across all classes. The airline's blend of cultural authenticity, technological innovation, and sustainability is not only a tribute to its homeland but a compelling invitation for travelers worldwide to experience the magic of New Zealand, starting from the moment they step onboard.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong witnesses 17% rise in long-haul visitors to city for April
Hong Kong witnessed an increase in the number of long-haul visitors coming to the city in April, with the level also increasing for the first four months of 2025 compared with last year, and is expected to continue growing in the coming months. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Thursday that the number of visitors from long-haul markets reached 343,023 in April, a 17 per cent increase from the same period last year. The figure also accounted for 8.91 per cent of the 3.84 million arrivals recorded for the month. Overall, the city welcomed 13 per cent more visitors in April compared with a year ago. The number of incoming travellers in the first four months of 2025 stood at 16.07 million, a 10 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. The number of mainland Chinese visitors heading to the city for the month reached 2.81 million, accounting for 73.17 per cent of arrivals and representing a 13 per cent increase year on year.
