WELL, it’s officially long-haul season.
There is a specific point every September when the rain starts in the UK that I accept summer’s officially over.
Then I find myself looking beyond my usual European resort searches, and wondering just how much further the exact same holiday budget could take me on my next one.
Conveniently, right now is also a brilliant window for you to start hunting.
Airlines are releasing their fresh seat availability for the next 12 months, hotels are opening up their early-bird room rates, and some properly absurd package prices are dropping onto holiday sites.
When you break a full package down into a nightly cost per person – including flights, hotels, and sometimes full all-inclusive – long-haul stops start looking like an unattainable luxury.
I tracked down direct London half-term flights to New York with a 4-star hotel for £578pp, nine nights in Bali for £630pp, and a 4-star Caribbean all-inclusive break for under £500pp.
So whether it’s bagging some sunshine this winter or getting booked ahead for next year – here are nine long-haul holidays you can bag for seriously cheap prices.
1. Oistins, Barbados – £127pp per night
Barbados carries a reputation for high-end price tags, but target the lively south coast and the maths changes completely.
Oistins and Christ Church give you pristine white sand, local rum shacks, and direct access to the legendary Friday night fish fry without the West Coast luxury premium.
And unlike a lot of long haul beach destinations, self-catering works brilliantly here – grab breakfast at a local bakery, then use your savings to eat fresh seafood by the beach.
If you did fancy a deal for Barbados, I’d keep an eye on Virgin Atlantic and British Airways for direct Heathrow slots, or TUI for regional departures.
I found a seven-night self-catering stay at the 3-star Butterfly Beach Hotel from £890pp, flying direct from London Heathrow on 9 June 2027.
That breaks down to just over £127pp per night for direct flights and a beachfront stay… in Barbados!
2. New York, USA – £116pp per night
If Manhattan has been sitting on your bucket list, February is the absolute golden window to grab a budget package.
Yes, you’ll need a proper winter coat, but you get much smaller crowds, shorter queues at headline attractions, and room rates that drop by hundreds of pounds compared to peak autumn or Christmas.
Skip the inflated hotel blocks right on Times Square: Lower Manhattan puts you steps from Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho, with quick Subway links everywhere else.
Plus, airlines fiercely compete on this route, driving package prices down when new seat blocks open up.
I even clocked five nights at the 4-star Wyndham Garden Chinatown over February half-term – departing 14 February 2027 – for £578pp, flying direct from London Heathrow.
When you break it down, that works out to less than £116pp per night for five nights in the Big Apple.
3. Tokyo, Japan – £101pp per night
February is an underrated time to explore Tokyo, in my opinion.
It’s dry, crisp, and significantly calmer than the cherry-blossom season.
You can wander through historic temples, ramen alleys, and neon cityscapes without fighting through wall-to-wall tour groups.
To maximise your budget, target hotels slightly outside the main tourist hubs of Shinjuku or Shibuya. And because Tokyo’s rail network is unmatched, staying a few stops out slashes your hotel bill without adding any stress.
The 4-star Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel sits in the quiet bay area with direct rail links into central Tokyo and Disney Resort.
And it’s where I found a seven-night package for £805pp, including flights from Manchester with hold luggage included, departing 17 February 2027 – working out to a little under £101pp per night.
4. Hanoi, Vietnam – £95pp per night
Hanoi is where you head if you want a long-haul trip that feels like a genuine adventure.
It’s a sensory overload of ancient temples, bustling night markets, and amazing street food stalls.
There’s also a brilliant local coffee culture, serving as the ultimate launchpad for overnight cruises around Ha Long Bay.
June brings tropical warmth and greener mountain landscapes, unlocking some of the lowest package pricing on the board.
You can grab seven nights with breakfast at the 5-star Lucien Hanoi Lakeside Hotel and Rooftop for £758pp, with indirect Manchester flights and hold luggage departing 6 June 2027.
That’s a full 5-star south-east Asian escape for just £95pp per night.
5. Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai – £75pp per night
Dubai is the ultimate option if you want guaranteed long haul sunshine without committing to a two-week journey.
A seven-hour flight gets you world-class dining, rooftop pools, and massive shopping malls.
The single biggest insider trick to saving money in Dubai is looking just past the expensive beach strip.
Inland developments like Jumeirah Village Circle offer far higher hotel specs for a fraction of the cost.
Plus these spots have plenty of cheap, frequent taxis connecting you to the beach in 15 minutes.
Our booking data shows Dubai is dominating long-haul demand right now too.
It’s no wonder either, because I found a seven-night bed and breakfast stay at the 4-star The First Collection at JVC for £598pp, including direct Gatwick flights and hold luggage, departing 20 June 2027.
That comes out to just £75pp per night, which is a pretty extraordinary price for a Dubai holiday of this quality.
6. Patong, Phuket – £72pp per night
Thailand remains the reigning champion for ground-level value.
While long-haul flights require an upfront investment, everyday costs in Thailand – from street-food meals to local transport – cost pennies once you arrive.
Patong is Phuket’s lively epicentre, packing hundreds of restaurants, beach bars, and night markets into a walkable strip.
But connecting flights via Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi keep the package prices remarkably low throughout autumn.
So I managed to track down a seven-night stay at the 3-star Red Planet Phuket Patong for £650pp, including indirect Heathrow flights and hold luggage departing 5 October 2026.
That delivers a week under the Thai sun for an incredible £72pp per night.
7. Playa del Carmen, Mexico – £71pp per night
Mexico’s Riviera Maya serves up the perfect balance of Caribbean beaches, a bit of history, and incredible food.
And Playa del Carmen is ideal because it combines palm-lined beaches with a buzzing, walkable strip along 5th Avenue.
That said, all-inclusive is a must here for keeping your spending under control, particularly for families.
Autumn sits in the tropical shoulder season, unlocking huge package drops while still delivering daily sunshine.
I flagged what I think is a bit of a pricing loophole right now: seven nights all-inclusive at the 4-star The Reef Coco Beach, including direct Manchester flights departing 5 October 2026, for £500pp.
That’s full all-inclusive on a Caribbean beach for £71pp per night – tough to beat!
8. Kuta, Bali – £70pp per night
Bali is unbeatable if you want an extended, laid-back break where your spending money goes miles further.
Kuta and neighbouring Legian are a convenient, high-value base packed with beachfront cafes, surf spots, and local markets.
It’s worth ticking this paradise island off your bucket list while prices are low, and in Kuta you can try everything from surfing to ticking off amazing temples.
The Sevn Legian hotel is an ideal base to book, with modern rooms, a great pool and a swim-up bar.
I clocked seven nights at the 4-star Sevn Legian for £630pp, including indirect London Heathrow flights and hold luggage departing 25 February 2027.
That works out at just £70pp per night for seven nights in Bali. Run, don’t walk…
9. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – £68pp per night
If your goal is a classic Caribbean beach break with no extra spending once you arrive, Punta Cana easily takes the number one spot in my list.
All inclusive dominates this coastline – 97% of Punta Cana bookings with On the Beach opt for it – and our recent data shows package prices sitting at near-record lows (down 14% fortnight-on-fortnight).
You get turquoise water, swaying palm trees, and expansive 4-star beachfront resorts for three-star European prices.
And even better, I found a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the 4-star Sunscape Coco Punta Cana for just £478pp, including direct Manchester flights departing 6 October 2026.
That’s flights, 4-star accommodation, all meals, and all drinks in the Caribbean for a staggering £68pp per night.
This is definitely the one I’d be booking right now.