THE turkey leftovers are nearly finished and the Christmas tree might be looking past its best.
While we have still got all the fun of New Year’s Eve this week, our thoughts will no doubt be turning to something we can look forward to in 2026.
And, of course, that has to be a holiday.
Travel companies are going all out this year to encourage us to get planning and there are some great deals to be had in their New Year sales.
Lisa Minot takes a look at some of the bargains to be bagged before Big Ben’s chimes usher in 2026.
British Airways
BRITISH Airways and BA Holidays’ January sale offers savings on trips to some of its most-searched holiday destinations in 2025, including New York, Orlando, Dubai, the Maldives and Barbados.
With 2026 marking the centenary of America’s Route 66 and the World Cup kicking off, there are return flights from £411 to Los Angeles, £427 to San Francisco and £439 to Miami.
Flights to Dubai start from £449 and Cancun from £482.
British Airways Holidays has seven-night packages to European destinations including Malaga, the Algarve, Malta and Majorca from £299pp.
And for a cheeky city break, there are deals in hot spots including Barcelona, Nice and Venice from £199pp.
There are also discounted holidays to the US, with Florida and Los Angeles from £599pp.
Deals include seven nights’ room-only at the 4H Pestana Alvor Beach Villas in Alvor, Portugal, from £299pp including Gatwick flights on dates in March and 23kg luggage.
Or seven nights’ room-only at 3.5H The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Tower in Las Vegas from £649pp including Heathrow flights on select dates in November.
To book, go to ba.com/sale.
Virgin Atlantic
THERE are savings of up to £120 per couple and £210 for a family of four on Virgin Holidays packages to the Caribbean, Orlando and Tampa with a low deposit of just £75pp.
Deals include 14 nights’ room-only at the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando from £908pp including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on March 4, 2026.
There are also holidays to new route Cancun in Mexico, with seven nights’ B&B at The Fives Downtown Hotel from £1,086pp including Virgin flights from Heathrow on September 19, 2026.
In Virgin Atlantic’s sale there are return flights to New York from £373 on select dates in February 2026, as well as return fares to Phuket in Thailand from £648pp on selected departure dates in October 2026.
You can also get return flights to Cape Town, South Africa, from £729pp on selected dates in January and February 2026.
See virginatlantic.com.
TUI
TOUR giant TUI is touting its biggest sale ever with up to £500 off holidays, zero deposits with direct debits to spread the cost and thousands of free kids’ places in the school holidays.
There are flexible departures from more than 20 local airports and hundreds of free room upgrades.
The sale offers savings of ten per cent with the code SALE up to a maximum saving of £500 as long as you download the TUI app and create an account.
As well as land-based holidays, there is up to £300 off TUI River Cruises when you spend over £3,500, or £200 off if you spend over £2,500 on sailings departing between March 2026 and the end of October 2027.
The deal is valid on sailings of five nights or longer on Europe’s River Rhine, Douro or Danube and River Nile in Egypt.
Or you can head long- haul to the Caribbean with seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Riu Negril in Jamaica.
It costs from £1,420pp including flights from Gatwick on June 16, 20kg hold luggage and transfers.
To book, go to tui.co.uk.
Jet 2
THE UK’s largest tour operator is sharing the love with £100 off ALL holidays booked in its sale, with a low deposit of just £25 needed to lock in a great deal.
The sale, running until January 12, also includes 20 per cent off all flight-only bookings on jet2.com, including on one-way flights.
All package holiday deals include 22kg luggage, 10kg hand luggage, under-seat bag, return transfers, plus ABTA and ATOL protection.
There are millions of free child places, as well as pay monthly plans to spread the cost.
Deals are available on more than 75 destinations across Europe, the Med, North Africa and the Canary Islands.
Offers include seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 3H Club Mac Alcudia Resort and Waterpark in Majorca from £579pp with flights from Leeds Bradford on April 18.
And seven nights’ B&B at the 3H Hotel La Barracuda, Costa del Sol, from £389pp including flights from Stansted on February 27.
See jet2holidays.com.
easyJet
THE Big Orange Sale from easyJet holidays is promising up to £400 off city breaks and beach escapes.
Holidaymakers can get £50 off a minimum spend of £500, £100 off an £800 minimum, £150 off a minimum of £1,500, £300 off a £3,000 minimum spend and £400 off a £4,000 spend with the code BIGSALE.
The deal is valid on 8,000 hand-picked hotels in more than 100 destinations in Europe and North Africa, from popular cities including Amsterdam and Prague, and beach spots from the Canaries to Cape Verde.
All holidays include flights and hotels, and beach packages also come with a 23kg luggage allowance and transfers.
Deals include four nights’ room-only at the 3H Espresso City Centre in Amsterdam from £227pp including flights from Southend on February 1.
And seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H Valeria Dar Atlas Resort in Marrakech from £435pp including flights from Liverpool on February 5, with 23kg luggage and transfers.
Book with a £60 deposit at easyjet.com/en/holidays.