SPAIN has always been a top holiday destination for Brits – but is quickly being taken over by a number of other destinations.
According to Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy, Spain has lost its appeal to holidaymakers with other destinations coming for its crown thanks to rising costs.
In an interview with Hosteltur, Mr Heapy predicted that Brits are ditching Spain for other destinations, all in North Africa.
The reason being? Money.
Mr Heapy explained: “Price is critical; inflation has affected Spain more than other emerging markets, making the destination more expensive.
“Tourist taxes don’t help either; paying an additional five euros per person per night on top of the trip cost represents a significant expense.”
In places like Barcelona, the surcharge for overnight stays is rising to €5 £4.34) per night.
In the Balearic Islands like Majorca and Ibiza, there’s an eco-tax added to accommodation which ranges between €1 (87p) to €4 (£3.47)pppn.
It will soon also be more expensive to fly to Spain, as previously reported, Aena, which operates the majority of airports in Spain, is increasing its airport charges by 6.44 per cent in 2026.
With the increase in cost, Mr Heapy said that Brits are heading to other locations instead – which are still just a few hours away from the UK.
He said: “North Africa is performing well, with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt standing out.”
Morocco is a great option for Brits, especially those seeking winter sun – and some destinations are less than an hour from the UK.
A flight from the UK to the vibrant city of Marrakesh takes just three hours and 40 minutes.
In February there are highs of 21C – much warmer than being in the UK at that time of year.
It’s cheap too, according to Skyscanner you can fly with Ryanair from London Stansted from just £15 on February 23, 2026.
On that same day, it’s more expensive to fly to Madrid which is £17 – and the journey is one hour less.
Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot recently visited the Moroccan city where she discovered desert landscapes, colourful streets and new bars, restaurants and hotels.
Other popular destinations in Morocco include Agadir which has beautiful golden beaches, the country’s capital Rabat, Essaouira on the southern coast, Fez and Tangier.
Tunisia is also back in the game according to Jet2’s Mr Heapy.
The number of Brits heading on holiday there has risen significantly with around 350,000 British visiting in 2024 – 65 per cent more than the previous year.
And numbers are rising thanks to its great weather, short flights and beautiful beaches.
And according to TravelSupermarket, Tunisia offers some of the very cheapest 5-star holidays on the market, averaging at £614pp.
Egypt has plenty of beautiful beachside resorts that will appeal to Brits seeking a fly and flop holiday.
You’ve got beach resorts like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, or if you want more of the city life, head to Cairo of Luxor & Aswan.
With loveholidays, breaks to Sharm El Sheikh including breakfast and flights start from as little as £219pp.
There were other Mediterranean destinations that Mr Heapy said are keeping a good level of tourism – like Greece.
There you get the best of both worlds from ancient cities to beautiful islands.
It’s also home to the world’s best island for 2025 – Paros, where travellers will find secret beach clubs and incredible restaurants where holidaymakers dance on tables.
Spain’s neighbour, Portugal, is also continuing to be popular especially in places like Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve region.
One writer who relocated from London to Lisbon still can’t believe how cheap it is.
You can pick up booze for less than £5 – from local beer to wine, she said “you can still purchase a top-quality house white or red for just a few euros.”
Coffee can be bought up for around 80p if you like an espresso – or coffee with milk – called a ‘galão’ – will usually come in at under two euros.
For more on Portugal, here’s the secret side of the country crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit.
And hear from one Greece expert who names four better value islands where locals go on holiday with Santorini-like houses and secluded beaches.