Deals and sales

WHOEVER suggested hibernating in winter hasn’t spent whole days inside with young kids, but as it happens, January and February can be a great time of year to treat the family to a budget day out.

Drizzly winter weather often means lower prices at top attractions, and there are plenty of exciting deals from now until spring. To prove rainy days don’t have to drain your bank account – we’ve hunted down the best bargain days out for families to enjoy in the wetter weather.

Plus, with February half term just around the corner, it’s best to plan ahead and pre-book your family days out – and secure these bargains whilst you can.

Read on for our pick of the best winter days out…

Theme parks and attractions

1. 50 per cent off Legoland Windsor Resort

Legoland Windsor Resort are offering some great deals ahead of the February half term, with half price tickets available when you book online.

Tickets can cost as little as £32 pp when booked in advance, saving you 50% on the walk up price.

Add on the adventure golf package for an extra £2 to save £42 pp on your trip to Legoland.

If you’ve got little ones under 90cm in height, they can enter for free.

The attraction is also offering “Brick Days” deals from 14 – 23 February.

These are days throughout the February half term packed with extra activities, specific weather-proof rides and meet and greets.

You can book a Brick Days deal online from £32pp, saving 53% when booked ahead.

2. Gulliver’s Kingdom family deal

Over at Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park in Matlock Bath, a family of four (with children aged 2-13) can visit for £39.

The deal comes courtesy of Wowcher, where families can save 61% off the original price of £99.

The family ticket is sold as a voucher, with flexible booking dates including 2026 school holiday availability.

There are also family vouchers for four available for £49 at the Warrington and Rother Valley locations.

3. Two thirds off at Chessington World of Adventures

Similarly, day tickets to Chessington World of Adventures have been slashed by two thirds during the February half term.

When prebooking online, tickets are available from just £22pp instead of £66pp.

A day ticket to Chessington includes entry to the theme park, zoo and SEA LIFE aquarium – that’s three attractions for just over twenty quid.

The same rule applies with those under 90cm being allowed in for free.

There’s even a short break deal from £32pp, meaning that you can stay overnight for the price of a regular day ticket.

And if it does get a bit chilly outside, Chessington has plenty of indoor attractions for you to explore.

There’s colourful soft play in the Dragon’s Playhouse, a walk-through tunnel in the indoor aquarium, and the Savannah Splash Pool.

4. After-school Legoland Adventure Golf

When it comes to crazy golf, Legoland Windsor Resort is a pretty unbeatable location.

Choose between three courses with space themes, pirates, or the impressive LEGO City.

The after school deal costs just £6pp instead of the £10pp walk up price.

This includes a round on one nine-hole course, and runs between 2 – 6pm from Monday through Thursday.

Make sure to prebook online at least a day in advance.

5. Merlin five attraction pass deal

This Merlin five attraction deal can save you up to 70% on family days out.

With this offer, you can visit five different Merlin Entertainments attractions over the course of 90 days for just £59pp.

This works out at £11.80pp per attraction, and is a great way of seeing some of London’s must-visits for families.

Choose between Shrek’s Adventure London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, the London Dungeon and the Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour.

6. London Dungeon discounted day out

The London Dungeon is a thrilling indoor activity for older kids – and you can save extra if you book online in advance.

Inside there’s everything from the terrifying Drop Dead ride to a creepy escape room set in Guy Fawkes’ cell.

Attraction tickets on the day cost £35 per adult, but you can save up to an extra £8 by booking your tickets online ahead of time.

Adventure and weather-proof activities

7. Forest coaster with a free kids meal

Adventure centre Zip World are offering some major discounts, locals’ loyalty and after-school deals across locations in England and Wales.

On Thursday and Friday evenings in January, kids can enjoy a free hot meal and a drink when visiting the forest coaster at Betws-y-Coed.

From 3pm onwards, kids can enjoy a thrilling 1km ride through the forest before sitting down to a choice of free tomato pasta, bean or beef chilli.

Forest coaster bookings start at £25 for three rides, and if you’re a local resident you get an extra 30% off from Monday – Friday.

8. Cave trampolining with a free meal and unlimited squash

Over at Zip World’s Llechwedd location, kids can enjoy an hour of cave trampolining with a free meal and unlimited squash for £15.

The Bounce Below deal runs from 5 – 31 January on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm.

You can also enjoy an extra 30% locals’ discount at Zip World attractions if you’re a resident of London, Manchester, Windermere, North Wales or South Wales.

The locals loyalty offer runs from 5 January – 13 February.

9. Ninja Warrior obstacle course

There’s some great deals running across Ninja Warrior UK courses – and this fully indoor attraction is perfect for any weather.

Here you make your way past a series of challenging inflatable obstacles, and end by facing the giant Ninja Warrior wall.

Early Bird and off-peak sessions cost £9.95pp, and a Ninja Toddlers session costs just £2.

There’s 17 locations to choose from, including Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, Wigan and more.

10. Indoor high ropes

Another great indoor option for burning off steam is the Gravity High Ropes experience in Birmingham.

At 31% off for just £10.95pp, adventurers can take on an action-packed course of climbing challenges, rope bridges and more.

You can save up to 41% if you book as a group, too, as the deal costs just £37.95 for a high ropes course for four.

11. Snow tubing deal

Elsewhere in Birmingham, take the kids to this unique snow tubing experience.

Those aged eight and over can grab themselves a doughnut tube and slide down a dry slope at Ackers Adventure Centre.

Taking place within a snow sports centre, this activity can be done in any weather.

The deal for two comes out to £8 per person if booked for two, which includes 30 minutes of tubing and is valid seven days a week.

12. Paintball for £2pp

For fans of outdoor adventure, Unreal Paintball in Madeley, Cheshire, is currently offering paintball group deals for 92% off.

A family-of-five can enjoy a paintballing day with 100 paintballs included for £10 – meaning the day out costs £2pp.

The Manor Farm location boasts nearly 40 acres of land including woodland, trenches, a castle and more to hide in.

The offer runs on weekends from 9am – 4pm for new Unreal Paintball customers.

13. 60% off Family Laser Quest

Over in Milton Keynes, the whole family can enjoy up to 60% off Laser Quest.

The deal includes two games for six players, costing just £6.50 per person – and there’s deals available for smaller groups, too.

This top-rated Laser Quest centre is decked out with misty fog, mazes, neon lights and pumping music.

The deal is available from Mondays – Fridays, from 4pm – 9pm during school time or 10am – 9pm during school holidays.

14. Bowling with dinner included

Bowling is another classic rainy weather activity for the whole family.

Hollywood Bowl has over 90 bowling centres, and they’re currently running a January Sales kids’ eat, drink and bowl deal from £8.50pp.

This includes one game of bowling, a choice between a burger or hotdog with fries, and drinks – which includes an alcoholic drinks for adults.

More offers include “Double the Fun Fridays”, where you can get a second game of bowling for free when you bowl after 9pm in January, using code JAN262G50 at online checkout.

15. 2-for-1 Ice skating and disco party

Planet Ice have skating rinks across the UK in cities like Peterborough, Leeds and Coventry – and they’ve got some great deals to book in time for February.

You can enjoy a 2-for-1 Valentines Day skating offer on February 13, which is suitable for all ages.

The offer is available online only – so make sure to snap up your plac by booking ahead on their website.

There’s also a half term disco skate taking place on February 13 and 20 across multiple locations.

16. Splash World waterpark

An indoor waterpark is always a safe bet on a drizzly day – and this offer for Splash World in Southport gets you 51% off full price.

This waterpark includes toddler splash zones, flume rides and a lazy river.

An £8 ticket (all ages) grants you a two hour session, with the offer ending in February.

17. Inflatable pool disco and obstacle course

Sticking with the waterpark theme, the London Aquatics Centre are running inflatable pool discos and obstacle courses on select dates until May.

For the Atlantis Obstacle Course, the Olympic-sized 50m pool becomes covered in a giant inflatable course with slides and climbing walls.

The obstacle course costs £12.60 per adult and £9.45 per junior.

The inflatable disco session, on the other hand, is suitable for ages five and above – and includes a fun inflatable run and massive floats.

The inflatable disco is priced at £10.50 for adults and £7.35 for juniors.

18. Cheap waterpark day in Derby

Moorways Sports Village and Waterpark in Derby is running Waterpark Wednesdays, giving families a cheaper option to visit during term time.

On Wednesdays from 4pm – 7pm during term time, adult tickets cost just £6.99, three to five-year-olds can visit for just £1 and under two’s go for free.

The waterpark is home to an aqua tube fast slide, a body slide, wave rider and rider slide – and a great choice whatever the weather.

19. Trampolining with giant inflatables and free pizza

Jump Inc have loads of indoor trampolining centres across the UK, including places like Blackpool, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Bristol and Aberdeen.

What makes this place unique is its great discounts and offers for families.

The After School Antics offer gives you two jump passes and a margherita pizza for dinner.

There’s also the unlimited jumps offer, where you pay for just one hour but can stay and bounce away up until closing.

The offer is valid from 3pm – 6pm from Mondays to Thursdays during term time. Offers vary by location.

20. Medieval mini golf

Knights Realm Adventure Golf in Basingstoke, Hampshire is home to an epic 18-hole themed golf course overlooked by a dragon.

Make your way around a medieval course dotted with armoured knights and historical scrolls teaching you all about the Middle Ages.

Plus you can save up to 31% off by booking through Groupon, and snap up a two adult ticket for £16 and child’s ticket for just £6.

21. 5D Cinema experience for £2.95

You can visit a 5D cinema for a unique movie experience for just £2.95 this winter.

There’s a choice of original films to pick from, including a thrilling rollercoaster journey named Amazon and a creepy horror called Blood Magic.

And if you’re bringing the whole family, you can get four tickets for just £8.95 – giving you something unique to try for a change of routine.

The 5D cinema is located within Laser Quest Bromley, so there’s another family-friendly activity to try out afterwards on your doorstep.

Museums and free exhibitions

Gone are the days where museums were for do-not-touch antiques and corridors of glass cabinets.

Now, there’s loads of unique museums across the UK that are both free to visit and full of exciting experiences made just for kids.

22. Manchester Museum

The Manchester Museum is free to enter, and full of exciting galleries like Living Worlds, Nature’s Library and a live vivarium.

And for families with dinosaur fans, the Manchester Museum has a brilliant Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, and is home to a popular T. Rex called Stan.

23. Triceratops Exhibition

The dinosaur fun doesn’t stop there – there’s also a triceratops exhibition running at the Manchester Museum until February 22nd.

The exhibition features hands-on elements for kids like a fossil digging zone, and and is suitable for all ages.

Both entry to the museum and the triceratops exhibition are free, however you should book your slot for the exhibition online.

24. The National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland is another fantastic place to spend the day with kids indoors.

The colourful Imagine gallery has plenty of sensory and interactive options including dress-up, a musical floor, and a storybook reading corner.

Up on level five of the museum, Adventure Planet caters to older children.

Here, kids can use interactive touch screens to do everything from design their own fish to dig for dinosaur bones and fossils.

25. Giants exhibition

The Giants exhibition is set to open at the National Museum of Scotland on the 31 January.

The exhibition showcases amazing 3D sculptures, from life-sized elephants to the megalodon shark.

26. The National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in London’s Greenwich is both free to enter and packed with things for kids to do.

There’s The Cove playground, a sea-themed area with a giant shark, pirate ship and huge kraken with rope tentacles to swing from.

There’s also the AHOY! children’s gallery for kids aged 0-7, which has activities ranging from sensory play for babies to interactive pirate cannons.

Not to mention the storytelling characters who visit on Saturdays, and the under-5’s play group which runs every Tuesday at £4 per session.

27. The National Railway Museum, York

The National Railway Museum in York is another fantastic free-entry choice for a rainy day.

Here you can come face to face with a Japanese Bullet Train, or even take a ride on the museum’s miniature railway.

And for an additional £9.90pp, the Wonderlab is well worth getting stuck into.

Here kids can become mini-engineers, learning about the science behind locomotives with daily shows and demonstrations.

Kids can even have a go in a human wind tunnel and try out some hands-on science experiments.

28. House of Marbles, Devon

The House of Marbles in Devon is home to four unique museums and is free to visit.

There’s loads of unique marble runs to take part in, including a massive snooker ball-sized contraption as well as a games garden.

Their free games museum can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike, as you learn about the history that inspired Pac-Man and Space Invaders.

29. Newcastle Discovery Museum

Newcastle Discovery Museum is another great free option.

It’s home to Turbinia: a huge ship powered by steam turbines.

Their play space Tiny Tyneside is full of replica transport inventions to play with, and is open daily.

30. The Great North Museum: Hancock

The Great North Museum: Hancock is worth visiting for its unique Mouse House area.

It’s full of interactive surprises and runs free events such as Museum Mice, where kids can explore and handle museum objects – just make sure to prebook online.

31. Upside Down House

The Upside Down House is a unique indoor attraction that does what it says on the tin – everything inside the house has been turned completely upside-down.

Wandering through the house with kids makes for a unique indoor activity, plus some funny photos to look back on.

There are locations in Liverpool, Brighton, Bristol and London – the cheapest to visit being Liverpool at £6.45pp.

32. Discover Story Centre

The Discover Story Centre in London is a giant immersive space for kids with an exciting and colourful story world and garden.

Escape from the drizzly outdoors into a bright and colourful space with trails, singalongs and screenings.

The best part is that you’re able to build your day exactly how you’d like.

You can choose from a list of constantly updated activities and events like the Monster Funfair and Gabby’s Dollhouse movie screening (January 24).

Each event typically costs £2 – £5, with a Discover entry ticket costing £10 for adults, £5 for 1 year-olds and under 1’s go free.

33. National Football Museum

The National Football Museum in Manchester is a fantastic choice for a sports fanatic day indoors.

Inside, you can find the world’s first international football shirt and the oldest surviving FA cup trophy.

Tickets cost £15 for adults and £9 for kids – but the best part is that once you’ve bought your ticket, you can keep returning for free for an entire year.

There’s also a family saver ticket for four costing £39 – not bad for a whole year’s worth of visits.

34. Underwater exhibition and Octonauts trail

The Horniman Museum in London is opening up a “Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures” exhibition from 13 February.

Here you board the ‘Nautilus’ submarine and discover everything from weird and wonderful sea creatures, to crawling through shipwrecks and decoding the secrets of Atlantis.

Plus, there’s an Octonauts “Adventure at the Horniman” Trail packed with activities.

Adult tickets cost £9.80 and kids tickets £7, with discounted rates for families of three (£20.20) or four (£27).

And if you’re on Universal Credit, the tickets are discounted to £2 – make sure to book in advance.

35. Free story festival

The young V&A in Bethnal Green, London is hosting a Story Festival in January 2026.

The festival will take place across the museum, and is completely free.

This includes singing and dancing performances, puppets and storytelling.

Drop-in storytelling activities take place on a first come first serve basis.

36. Free arts drawing sessions at London Southbank

At London’s Southbank Centre, families can drop in to relaxed drawing sessions over weekends.

Led by artist Erdem Kuslu, families can take part in drawing exercises and group games – entirely for free.

The experience is bookable from 16 January – just make sure you book a slot online in advance.

37. Wonderlab hands-on kids gallery

The Science Museum in London’s Kensington is home to a ticketed interactive kids gallery called Wonderlab.

Built for ages 7 – 14, this hands-on experience turns kids into budding scientists.

Wonderlab reopens on 16 January, and is open daily from 10am – 5pm.

Day passes cost £17 for ages 4+, with a family day pass based on 2 adults and 2 children giving you £3 off.

You can also save several pounds extra by booking your tickets in advance and at specific timeslots listed on the Wonderlab site.

Farms and outdoors

When the days are bright and dry, a family day out at the farm can be one of the best ways to get outdoors.

And we’ve found a range of open farms across the UK with free or cheap entry.

38. Bath City Farm

Bath City Farm is free to visit – and it’s easy to spend an entire day their exploring its woodland trails, children’s playground, seeing the animals and visiting the farm shop and cafe.

The farm is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am – 4pm, and on Sundays from 9.30am – 4pm.

39. Stonebridge City Farm

Another free option is Stonebridge City Farm in Nottingham.

This unique working farm in the middle of the city has amazing grounds, with a well-kept wildlife pond and even Japanese gardens.

They also run cheap events for kids, such as Rainbow Stripes on Tuesdays which is an interactive live music workshop.

40. Bucks Goat Centre

The Bucks Goat Centre in Aylesbury is offering a deal with just £4.55 entry for adults and £3.90 for children – or a family of four can visit for £15.40.

Here you can meet the friendly goats, chickens and alpacas, then sit down to enjoy hot chocolates and milkshakes in the Grazing Goat Cafe.

There’s also weekend events to look forward to like Bunny Brunch on Saturdays at 10:30, and Ferret Fun on Sundays at 11:30.

41. HAPPA Horse haven

For fans of horses and ponies, the HAPPA horse haven in Burnley is open to visitors.

Here you can meet rescue horses, donkeys and ponies, and take part in kids events like Pony Squad.

Visiting HAPPA costs £6 per adult and just £1 per child.

Make sure to book your slot online before visiting.

42. Mudchute Park and Farm

Mudchute Park and Farm in East London is another working farm that is free to visit – and has a massive 32 acres of land to explore.

Their courtyard and small animals area has just re-opened for the year, where you can visit guinea pigs and rabbits.

Here you can also meet cows, sheep, goats, and more.

43. Challenge Woods adventure playground

Outdoor activity centres like Bewilderwood can be quite expensive, especially by the time you’ve bought tickets for the whole family.

Challenge Woods in Norwich is miles cheaper than the nearby attraction, at just £4 entry for ages 4-17 with ages 0-3 going free.

Whilst it’s not quite high ropes, here kids can take part in zip lines, slides, wooden climbing structures and more, backed by Norfolk woodland.

44. Alpaca experience at Pennybridge Farm

Pennybridge Farm in Hampshire has gone fluffing mad with this discounted alpaca experience.

For just £7pp, you can meet and greet a herd of adorable alpacas at this open farm.

You even get to take part in feeding the animals, and learn all about the unique mammals.

The farm is open daily, and this bargain experience is a great way to spend a bright winter’s morning outdoors.

Soft play and younger children

There’s plenty of cheap and easy ways to keep little ones entertained over the winter months.

45. £1.75 Soft play with a drink

This soft play deal in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire is offering 50% off for two hours of play and a soft drink – costing just £1.75 per child.

Sqoshis Play Centre has plenty of climbing areas and slides, and it also has a laser and Nerf centre to entertain the older kids, too.

46. Slime making with kids meal and a hot drink

Colourful slime always goes down well with younger children, and this slime-making experience at Tilly Pots in Ravenshead makes for a creative afternoon out.

The deal includes a children’s meal and a hot drink for parents, costing just £6.95 for an adult and child together.

And for a family of four with two adults and two children, you can visit for just £11.95 – which is 46% off the usual price.

47. Little Diggers giant sandpit

Over in Leicester, mini-builders can put on their hard hat and visit a giant sandpit full of mini bulldozers, diggers and tractors – and play to their heart’s content.

The Little Diggers experience is currently 37% off, costing just £9.50 per child.

The experience takes place in Jump Giants Leicester, where there’s also trampolines and obstacle courses to enjoy.

48. Warwick Castle parent and toddler offer

Warwick Castle is currently running a parent and toddler offer for £20.

The deal includes access to the Zog Playland, the Horrible Histories maze, the UK’s largest birds of prey show and more.

The castle has more than 64 acres of grounds to explore with princess tower and dungeon experiences – plenty to keep the family entertained for an entire day.

49. Gruffalo Clubhouse term time deal

The Gruffalo Clubhouse in Blackpool is a great themed immersive indoor option.

Inside, there’s the Deep Dark Woods to explore, as well as soft play, a toddler play zone, a sensory room and the exciting Zog’s Dragon School Challenge.

Booking an adult and toddler ticket online costs £9 (saving you £10), and can be used from Monday – Friday during school term times.

50. Indoor play offer

A parent and child can visit Oasis Play in Surrey or London for a session of ball pits, slides and more for just £5.50 with this offer.

Oasis Play is a soft play centre with a sea-themed area, glowing neon lights – and it’s even rumoured that Bluey likes to visit.

This deal grants you 75-minute access on either weekdays or weekends, so your little ones can jump, climb and crawl to their heart’s content.

There’s further discounted offers available on Groupon, including a two adult one child ticket for £6.50 and a two adults two children ticket for just £10.50.

BEAT the January blues and see everything that the UK has to offer thanks to these great train travel savings from Trip.com.

We have partnered with Trip.com to offer all Sun Club members the chance to save up to 25 per cent on a railcard purchase, plus 5 per cent on a train ticket purchase.

Sun Club offers readers access to more of our award-winning articles from showbiz exclusives, real-life stories, and unrivalled investigations, as a member you will get 350 more articles to read a month.

You’ll also have exclusive access to our outspoken columnists, including showbiz extraordinaire Clemmie Moodie, the iconic Jeremy Clarkson, TV expert Ally Ross and Loose Women’s Jane Moore.

Along with being able to unlock extra articles, there are big perks including instant access to our Hols from £9.50 offer which returns this January.

How to get discounted railcards and train tickets with Sun Club

Sun Club Membership Programme

Step 1: To get discounted railcards and train tickets with Sun Club and Trip.com, join Sun Club now for just £1.99 a month.

Step 2: Then head to the ‘Offers Hub,’ select the Enjoy discounted railcards and train tickets’ page and click ‘Redeem’.

Step 3: You will be taken to Trip.com page and once there follow the steps on the Sun Club ‘Offers Hub’ page.

18+ UK only. Offer ends 23:59pm on 31/01/26. Online access and Sun Club subscription required. Railcard activated by purchasing any train ticket via the Trip.com platform. Railcard and train ticket promo codes valid until 31/03/26. Sun Club new customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 per year, unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date.

Plus, discounted tickets to the UK’s top attractions like Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures plus competitions and offers, saving you hundreds every year.

This month new Trip.com customers can enjoy 25 per cent off railcard purchases, whilst existing Trip.com customers can claim 10 percent off a railcard.

This includes the following digital railcards: 16-17 Saver, 16-25 Railcard, 26-30 Railcard, Family & Friends’ Railcard, Network Railcard, Senior Railcard and Two Together Railcard. The offer excludes the Disabled Persons Railcard and the Veterans Railcard. 

And the deals do not stop there, new Trip.com customers can also get 5 per cent off a train ticket purchase, so if you are not already a Trip.com customer, this is the time to join in and book a trip this January.

Working with over 300 rail companies, including National Rail, Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, South Western Railways, CrossCountry trains, Trip.com is committed to offering the best prices for UK rail tickets.

Plus, with Trip.com’s price match if you find trains for a cheaper price elsewhere, let them know and they will refund the difference*.

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*Best Price Promise Terms and Conditions. For full Sun Club T&Cs, visit thesun.co.uk/club.

WHEN I ask my friends how much they think a week-long, round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico will be, all guesses are upwards of £3,000.

So their jaws drop when I reveal that my sailing is just £215 for seven days at a last-minute price – that’s just £30 a night (a sum that might not even get you three margaritas in London).

Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Mexican Riviera itinerary includes three sun-drenched, taco-packed port stops plus accommodation, food and entertainment.

Of course, it doesn’t come with flights so Brits will have to splash out on those to get to LA first.

But why is a holiday on the Norwegian Bliss so cheap?

Firstly, sailing on older ships is an easy way to secure lower fares.

ZIP OVER

The epic French holiday resort with kids club and laid back vibes

BEACHY KEEN

Sun readers’ favourite family attractions in Lincolnshire’s seaside resorts

Norwegian Bliss was built in 2018 and, although refurbished in 2025, doesn’t quite have the sparkling modernity of its newer siblings.

The 4,010-guest vessel (it’s the largest in the NCL fleet) has a darker, more
traditional feel to it.

You won’t find any swanky technology like wearable keys or iPads in your room, nor any robots, sports courts or high-diving shows either.

Instead, daily entertainment is classic cruising with a lime-splash of retro.

Think balloon twisting workshops, fruit and vegetable carving demos, Pictionary, and all manner of game shows that even the lure of Cabo San
Lucas’ iconic beaches can’t tempt some guests away from.

But crucially, they’re all free – as are the comedy acts, dance classes, live music, glow parties, musical theatre and more.

I can’t believe it when a Mr Sexy Legs contest starts up by the pool – have I time-travelled to the early noughties?

But it’s hugely popular and I can’t pull my eyes away as a parade of (far
from youthful but deeply confident) men strut, squat, kick and lunge before ‘judges’.

It’s anything but sexy, though – no matter how hard the R&B vocals of Pony by Ginuwine try.

It’s not all cheesy activities. NCL’s standout attraction onboard is Bliss Speedway, a two-level go-karting race track on the top deck, complete with hairpin bends and high-up views.

I take a zoom around at sunset (£11 for 10 minutes) and blame the distractingly peachy pretty sky on how bad my driving is; Lewis Hamilton can safely keep his job.

Waterslides, meanwhile, deliver thrills gratis. I try the Aqua Racer water slide, whooshing past bright lights and chirpy colours as though I’m being flushed through a Skittles factory, before braving the Ocean Loops drop slide (and I mean braving – multiple people get stuck while I queue).

For a different kind of liquid courage, NCL’s bargain drink package gets rave reviews during my Pacific voyage.

Currently, on seven to eight-day cruises, you can upgrade from just £119
per person and get unlimited premium spirits, cocktails, wines, draft beer and soft drinks (as well as three speciality dining experiences, Wi-Fi and excursion credits).

That’s just £17 a day – so perhaps its no surprise I see a couple brandishing a pint and a Prosecco between them at 8.15am.

The biggest explanations for the cantina-cheap fare on my Mexican Riviera cruise, though?

The price dropped as the departure date approached, and it applied to an Inside Cabin (which means no windows in your room).

What’s more, the holiday took place during shoulder season which was before the Christmas holidays.

This is when cruise lines slash prices to fill up cabins.

So if you want to find your own bargain break, remember to find older cruise ships and last-minute sailings to save the most pennies.

Other bargain deals currently include a five-night sailing on Norwegian Jade for £225pp, with stops in Mexico.

And we’ve rounded some purse pleasing cruises you can lock in for under £500 without having to hop on a plane from the UK.

Cruises Under £500 From The UK

Ambassador Cruise Line has no-fly deals from Bristol and Tilbury for as little as £455p.

Covering France, Spain, Ireland and festive markets, all have free drinks packages and up to 25 per cent off.

See ambassadorcruiseline.com.

P&O Cruises offers short breaks from Southampton.

This includes a 5-night adult-only sailing and a 4-night Amsterdam stay from £479pp.

See www.pocruises.com.

Cunard’s Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2 have short hops to Hamburg, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.

Start from £169pp, they come with £30 off. Or there is a seven-night transatlantic to New York from £499pp with extra onboard credit.

See www.cunard.com.

MSC Cruises has seven-night sailings from Southampton to Northern Europe, Iberia and Fjords sailings from Southampton from £399pp with up to 30 per cent off and extra loyalty savings.

See msccruises.co.uk

Marella Cruises runs a 2-night adults-only all-inclusive Canaries break from £349pp with flights and savings up to £328.

For more see https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/deals/all-inclusive-cruises

Royal Caribbean’s 5-night Hamburg & Bruges trip from Southampton starts from £449pp with Black Friday fare and upgrade reductions.

For more see https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruises

Cruises Under £500 (Fly-Cruises)

Princess Cruises offers Alaska, Caribbean and Med fly-cruises from £198–£499pp with up to £600 off or added onboard credit.

For more see https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/

Celebrity Cruises features Western Caribbean, Pacific Coastal and Southern Caribbean sailings from £349–£406pp with up to 75% off the second guest and up to £500 instant savings.

For more see https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/cruises

Celestyal Cruises has Greek Islands short breaks from £379pp, Arabian Gulf trips from £239pp and Desert Days itineraries from £459pp with reduced lead fares and inclusive perks.

For more see https://celestyal.com/gb

For more on cruises, here are our favourites for cruises 2026 – with hidden speakeasies, West End shows and 24-hour restaurants.

And here are the five of the best January cruise deals – from discounts and upgrades to bargain drink packages.

NOW is the time to start planning your summer 2026 holiday, with travel companies launching their January sales.

And new research has revealed the most affordable destinations – both short and long haul – to head to.

TravelSupermarket looked at the price of all-inclusive holidays across some of the most popular short-haul destinations in both Europe and Africa.

The study looked at holiday searches between October 5, 2025 and January 4, 2026, when booking for travel between May and September 2026.

Coming in first place was Bulgaria, with an average price of £760pp for a week-long, all-inclusive stay.

Yet we found some for as little as £239pp for an all-inclusive week away each, with loveholidays.

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Bulgaria is often named one of the cheapest European destinations for a holiday – last year Nessebar was named by easyJet as one of the cheapest seaside destinations, with beers from £1.60.

Coming in second place, according to TravelSupermarket, was Morocco, with all-inclusive stays on average at £852.

Morocco is often seen as a great winter sun destination without having to go too far, with popular destinations including Marrakech, Agadir and Fez.

Similarly, all-inclusive holidays can be found for as little as £259pp on loveholidays.

Other cheap holiday destinations include Malta, with all-inclusive holidays £862 on average, followed by Spain (£888) and Tunisia (£934).

However, when it comes to the destinations which have dropped in price, Croatia has seen the biggest fall.

Holidays, on average, have fallen by £136pp, around 22 per cent.

And while Morocco and Tunisia remain as some of the more affordable destinations, they are starting to increase in price.

Tunisia holidays are up £170 compared to last year (up 22 per cent) while Morocco holidays are up £125 (up 17 per cent).

Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket, said: “Bulgaria looks set to reclaim its crown as the go-to bargain all-inclusive destination.

“Despite the increases, Tunisia and Morocco remain firmly in the top five cheapest countries, so families can still find excellent value there.”

When it comes to the best affordable long-haul destinations, Cape Verde came out on top.

Around six hours from the UK by plane, the average all-inclusive holiday comes out at £1,247 – down six per cent compared to last year.

This was followed by the UAE at £1,297 (a drop of nine per cent) and the Dominican Republic at £1,664 (down four per cent).

Destinations that have increased include Sri Lanka – up 22 per cent compared to 2025 – and Jamaica, up 16 per cent.

The Maldives is the only destination where all-inclusive holidays have remained the same in price with an average of £1,857.

It’s been 75 years since all-inclusive holidays launched – so we found 75 of the best deals.

Don’t want to leave the UK? Here are the secret all-inclusive resorts you can find in Britain.

GOT the January blues? That’s nothing a cosy cottage can’t fix.

And if you book right now, you can bag a top bargain, as UK holiday sites are slashing their prices for not just January, but the rest of the year too.

Here, Sophie Swietochowski shares her best deals for staycation rentals, from country homes close to pubs with roaring fireplaces to timber-beamed properties with rural walks right on your doorstep.

FLORENCE SPRINGS LAKESIDE LODGES, Tenby

HOSEASONS currently has up to 30 per cent off on more than 50,000 breaks, including dates in the summer.

Those on a budget will be spoilt for choice, with more than 130,000 properties available for under £250 per break.

Each of the sleek lodges comes with a modern kitchen/living room complete with fireplace and overlooks a grand lake, bordered by reeds that attract wildlife.

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The site even has three friendly alpacas.

Private verandas are kitted out with hot tubs – perfect for cosy nights in.

GO: A seven-night self-catered stay, sleeping up to four guests, is £399, down from £509.

See hoseasons.co.uk.

WEAVER’S COTTAGE Yorkshire Dales

AVID ramblers should look no further than Weaver’s Cottage, a small but charming holiday home right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Right now, you can bag 30 per cent off all stays booked before February 2, with up to £300 off the total on cottages.com.

Split across three levels and with a cosy log burner, the two-bedroom property is ideal for hunkering down during winter, while the enclosed garden’s furniture is perfect for soaking up the sun in summer.

On top of scenic walking trails, there’s horse riding and great fishing sites nearby.

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering is from £465, reduced from £705, sleeping up to four.

See cottages.com.

BARLEY COTTAGE Axminster, Devon

LOOKING to whizz off straight away?

Sykes Cottages has some corking deals for January, with almost £500 off some properties.

The South West is gorgeous at this time of year, with fewer crowds and more space to roam.

Check into the six-person Barley Cottage in Axminster, a 15-minute drive from the coast.

The home features three snug bedrooms and an outdoor barbecue hut with a firepit that will keep you toasty throughout the winter nights.

If you don’t fancy cooking, there are several pubs just over a mile away, including the Castle Inn, which has weekly deals such as a burger, chips and a drink for a tenner or curry night which will set you back £12.99.

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering is from £824, reduced from £909, for arrival on January 16.

See sykescottages.co.uk.

ROBIN COTTAGE Bourton-on-the-water, Cotswolds

FEWER UK spots say cosy staycation quite like the Cotswolds.

Luckily for you, Cotswold Cottages is slashing the price of all 2026 stays by 20 per cent, with dates available in the school holidays too.

Just make sure you book by January 31.

Robin Cottage is tucked away in the rural village of Bourton-on-the-Water, which straddles the River Windrush.

It has exposed brick walls, an open fire and great views of the water.

It’s well suited to couples, with just one bedroom, and the delights of the village are all within walking distance, including the Cotswolds Motoring Museum, where you can delve into the history of 20th-century vehicles.

GO: Three nights’ self-catering is from £442.55, down from £590.

See boundless.co.uk.

ASHLEA POOL LODGES Craven Arms, Shropshire

FOR those wanting to reconnect with nature, Ashlea Pool Lodges has it all.

Buried in the rolling hills of Shropshire, this Hoseasons site has lodges overlooking a tranquil lake, thick woodland for roaming and wildlife in every direction you turn.

The activities are abundant, too, with walking trails, cycling routes and fishing spots all nearby.

The holiday park is included in Hoseasons 30-per-cent-off deal, so you can bag yourself a decent price as long as you book before February 2.

Each of the lodges blends seamlessly with its surroundings, thanks to wooden panelling on the walls and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over leafy trees.

There’s an onsite cafe selling homemade scones, tempting cakes and creamy milkshakes, as well as a pizzeria.

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering in a six-person lodge is from £399, down from £499.

See hoseasons.co.uk.

LOOKING to save on holidays on the high seas?

Cruise companies are going all out to get you booking, with their January Wave campaigns offering discounts and upgrades.

Lisa Minot looks at the savings to be made if you book in New Year sales . . . 

MARELLA

There are savings of up to £300 per booking on select departures between April 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027.

Deals are on sailings of seven nights or more to over 100 destinations including the Caribbean and Canaries.

An 11-night Captivating Coasts repositioning cruise from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on Marella Explorer will sail from the Canaries on April 26, 2027, to include calls in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Morocco, Malaga, Menorca, Sicily and Corfu.

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Dream trip of Miami Open and then luxury Caribbean cruise from £2,399pp

Prices from £1,941pp all-inclusive cover flights from Gatwick, 20kg luggage and transfers. See tui.co.uk/cruise/deals.

P&O

This very British cruise line now has all-inclusive packages for the first time on trips of five nights or more.

Departures are from March 2026 and include all drinks, wifi and speciality dining credit.

A Classic package is from £49pp per day and the Deluxe is from £59pp, with a wider range of spirits, ultimate wifi and up to £80 dining credit.

Deals include a seven-night all-inclusive Canary Islands and Madeira fly-cruise on P&O Azura from £972pp, including drinks, wifi, speciality dining credit, flights and transfers, departing March 6. See pocruises.com.

MSC

The company has reduced the price of drinks packages on select sailings to just £196pp (previously £250) so you can enjoy beers, wines and cocktails from just £28 per day on seven-night cruises.

Other incentives in their Wave campaign include fly-cruise packages to the Mediterranean with flights from just £99 or low £100 deposits to secure the cruise of your choice.

Deals include setting sail from Southampton on MSC Virtuosa on October 31 for a seven-night voyage that calls at Brest, Lisbon, Vigo and Cherbourg. From £494pp.

To book, see msccruises.co.uk.

PRINCESS

There are savings of up to £800 per Stateroom and low deposits of £99 in the cruise line’s Value Is Princess VIP sale.

Book before March 2 and save up to £75pp on sailings from six to eight nights; £150pp on sailings from nine to 16 nights and up to £200 on cruises of more than 17 nights.

The promotion includes all 17 ships in the fleet, including the latest addition, Star Princess, with fares on the new ship on seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from £494pp.

And sister ship Sun Princess is also included, with seven night sailings from Barcelona from £774pp. See princess.com/en-uk.

CELEBRITY

Save up to 60 per cent on the second guest, with £500 in savings or $600 on-board spend.

On European sailings from May 1 next year, guests can upgrade to Celebrity’s All Included package, which combines the classic drinks package with wifi from only £50pp, per day.

In 2026, the premium cruise line will offer even more ways to explore Europe with three Edge-class ships, the latest Xcel, Ascent and Apex sailing to more than 100 European destinations with 59 overnight stays, including Madeira and Istanbul.

See celebritycruises.co.uk.

THE Government is launching a week long sale on train tickets that could save you up to 70 per cent on transport.

Running from 6-12 January millions of train tickets will be discounted to help make half term activities, weekend getaways and commuting more affordable.

The reduced fares can be used to travel on thousands of popular routes between 13 January and 25 March 2026.

The routes span the length and breadth of Britain as nearly all train operators are taking part.

Make the most of the £10 fares from south coast destinations such as Portsmouth to London Waterloo by booking a big day out or catch up with a city friend.

If you’re planning a holiday abroad you could maximise your savings by booking it between January and March as journeys from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport will cost just £1.20, down from £2.90. 

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This is the fourth year of the Rail Sale and last year over 1 million tickets were sold, bringing in over £9 million in ticket sale revenue for the industry. 

Passengers last time saved an average of £8 per journey.

The sale marks another of the Government’s attempts to ease the cost of living by freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years. 

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “The Rail Sale is back – and it means further discounts for passengers as we freeze rail fares for the first time in three decades to help ease the cost of living.

“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so whether you’re planning a half term getaway, or visiting friends or family, this sale offers huge reductions. 

“It’s all part of our plans to build a railway owned by the public, that works for the public.” 

AFTER the expense of Christmas, planning a summer holiday might be the last thing on your mind. But did you know booking now could actually knock HUNDREDS off the price?

From choosing when to travel to how you pack, our expert suggestions will make your trip substantially more affordable. Don’t lose out by waiting until the last minute – do these 15 things NOW to bag the best summer bargain.

1. Set up price alerts for flights

If you haven’t got set dates that you need to travel, you can set up price alerts on flights to find the best deals. 

To do this, click the “price alerts” button on your results page on comparison sites like Skyscanner, Kayak or Google Flights. 

You then need to enter your email address to be alerted if prices drop. 

It’s important to remember that, while comparison sites are great for checking prices across many different airlines, it’s usually cheaper to book directly with the airline, especially after adding on checked bags and seat selection.

2. Book flights at least two months in advance

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your flight – it rarely pays off. 

Instead, book your flights well ahead. 

According to research by Skyscanner, the cheapest time to book international flights is normally two to six months before you travel – meaning that you should be booking as early as January or February if you plan to fly in July or August.

Skyscanner’s Savings Generator tool can help you find the best time to book your flights.

3. Fly midweek if possible

If you can fly midweek, do. 

Opting for a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday is often cheaper than on weekends due to lower demand. 

According to research by Skyscanner, the most expensive days to fly are Fridays, Sundays and Mondays due to business and weekend travel demand. 

So if you have flexibility, go for a midweek flight to save money.

4. Join hotel loyalty schemes

Hotel loyalty programmes make your holiday spend spread further. 

Member benefits include discounts on bookings, earning points for free nights or upgrades, and redeeming points or vouchers for flights, hotels or other travel expenses. 

In fact, research by Which? suggests that loyalty schemes are the cheapest way to book hotels – outstripping even popular platforms like Booking.com and Hotels.com. 

Most chain hotels have loyalty schemes, which are free to join and promise instant access to discounted room rates. 

Free membership with the likes of Hilton and Accor can save you up to £40 a night – that’s around £300 for a week in Dubai via the Hilton Honors loyalty scheme.

5. Collect air miles and loyalty points

Your weekly shop could help pay for your summer holiday, as long as you sign up to the right loyalty scheme. 

Tesco Clubcard points can be converted into Virgin points: £1.50 of Clubcard vouchers will get you 300 Virgin Points, which can be used for flights and upgrades. 

Meanwhile, Nectar points can be changed into Avios points, with one Avios per 1.6 Nectar points. 

You can use this as currency towards flights with airlines including British Airways, Qatar Airways and Iberia. 

But you’ll need to get spending in Nectar retailers for that flight – with around 18,500 Avios needed for a short-haul economy return flight.

6. Pick a budget-friendly holiday destination

The Algarve, in Portugal, is Europe’s best value-for-money destination, according to a report by the Post Office. 

For the ninth year running, it emerged as the cheapest holiday destination in 2025, thanks to low-cost meals and drinks. 

A three-course meal for two with wine will set you back just £40.33 in this sun-drenched region. 

Resorts in Cape Town, Bulgaria and Spain’s Costa del Sol, where a beer costs around £2.07, £2.47 and £2.46 respectively, also ranked well for affordability. 

Before homing in on your destination, it’s worth checking roughly how much you may spend while you’re away via the report and other cost of living databases like numbeo.com.

7. Research where to get cheap eats

It’s always a good idea to research your destination before you travel – especially if you’re looking to cut costs when you arrive. 

Eating out can burn a serious hole in your pocket, so swot up on best bargain restaurants, food trucks and markets ahead of time. 

Google Maps allows you to filter by price, while review sites like Tripadvisor or OpenTable have value-focused lists. 

When you arrive at your destination, make lunch your main meal – this is when many restaurants offer good value set menus – and avoid eating near the main tourist hotspots.

Sites like TheFork, Time Out and Groupon offer discounts on dining in cities around the world.

8. Snap up free kids’ places… by January

When researching your summer holiday, look out for free children’s places on package holidays. 

These allow one child (aged up to 16) to travel for free with two full-paying adults on a holiday package. 

This includes their flights and accommodation. 

Many holiday operators, such as Tui and Jet2Holidays, also include transfers, food and drink and entertainment like kids’ clubs. 

But you’ll need to be quick – free child places are in high demand and can be limited, so book early to bag the bargain. 

If you’re travelling in peak summer, it’s a good idea to book in early January to get the holiday you’re after.

9. Weigh up a package holiday against a DIY break

Depending on where and when you travel, a package holiday might be the cheapest option, particularly if you’re staying on an all-inclusive basis. 

This means you won’t have to splash out on meals, snacks and drinks locally. 

However, it’s always worth comparing the cost with a DIY break. 

According to MoneySavingExpert, booking late (no more than 10 weeks before departure) is normally the cheapest way to get a package. 

But doing this means you run the risk of losing out on other discounts, such as free kids’ places, which you usually need to book well in advance – so weigh up all your options.

10. Start a savings pot

Parents fork out over £1,000 extra per week during the school holidays, according to research from life insurance broker Reassured. 

This is before they add on an extra £481 per person for a holiday abroad. 

So it’s a good idea to start putting money aside for next year’s summer holiday now. 

Decide how much you want to spend next summer, factoring in the cost of food and experiences while you’re away, and start saving gradually. 

Divide the total into however many pay days you have left until your holiday, and set aside part of the budget in a savings account, repeating the process every payday. 

This should help reduce the financial stress of the holiday when it rolls around.

11. Book airport parking early

The cost of booking airport parking can creep up if left until the last minute. 

The earlier you book, the more likely you are to find the best price. 

For instance, if you turn up at Manchester Airport’s multi-storey car park to park for a week, you’ll fork out £406 – quadruple the price of a booking made four months in advance (£95).

Heathrow’s short-stay car parks cost £616 per week at the turn-up price – £393 more than if you book a month in advance (£223). 

Even booking just a couple of hours ahead can be far cheaper than the price if you pay on arrival. 

Other tips to cut the cost of airport parking include using trusted off-site providers, such as APH, I Love Meet and Greet and Sentinel Car Park, which are usually cheaper than the official airport car parks. 

If you have an early flight or live far from the airport, seek out airport parking hotel deals, which often offer a better rate for parking.

12. Dodge tourist trap destinations

Popular hotspots tend to cost more – so look to lesser-known alternatives for cheaper rates.

For instance, if you’re heading to France, consider Lille instead of Paris for a more affordable French experience. 

In Lille, the average daily cost per person (including accommodation, food, transport and entertainment) is about £128 (€146). 

Meanwhile, the same will cost you £230 (€265) in the French capital, according to budgetyourtrip.com. 

Lesser-known spots help you stretch your budget by offering lower accommodation and dining costs.

13. Keep baggage costs under control

Make sure you know your luggage allowance – and stick to them – to avoid unnecessary baggage fees. 

Each airline has its own restrictions, so check yours well in advance to avoid hefty fees of going over the limit. 

For instance, easyJet charges around £10 per extra kilo at the desk, while Ryanair charges an extra £10.50 per kilo that you go over. 

The cheapest way is to travel light and take hand luggage only. 

Create a packing list in advance, and only pack what you will realistically use. 

Roll, instead of fold, your clothes to maximize space and take travel-sized toiletries instead of bulky bottles. 

If you can’t be this ruthless with your packing then add your checked bag at the time you book your flight – it will cost less than adding it on later.

14. Book hotels on your smartphone for a cheaper rate

This simple trick could save you hundreds of pounds when booking a hotel stay – make the booking on your mobile phone instead of your laptop or computer. 

Which? Travel discovered that this can give you a much better price. 

Platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia and Hotels.com offer mobile-only discounts on selected hotels with up to 40 per cent off stays – but only if your booking is made on a smartphone.

The research found you could slash £270 off the cost of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com, and save £60 on a weekend in Edinburgh with Expedia thanks to these mobile-exclusive prices. 

So to make sure you’ve found the best deal, it’s always worth double checking a mobile and laptop price.

15. Book at the end of the summer season

As demand increases, so does the price. 

Being flexible about when you travel can lead to huge savings. 

If you want to get the best deals on flights and accommodation, consider a holiday later in the summer season. 

Many Brits escape in the early summer months, leading to price peaks in June and July.

Prices become less steep in late August and early September, as it is less popular. 

In 2023, average ticket prices dropped by £94 from their peak in early July to August, according to Expedia. 

Some airlines and hotels will tempt you with discounts to encourage booking in the less popular months. 

So, to save on your sunshine, scheduling your trip for the end of August could be the way to go.

THE January sales are about to land and now is an excellent time to bag yourself a bargain, whether it’s a summer holiday, homeware or that
set of golf clubs you’ve had your eye on for months.

But don’t just spend your cash willy-nilly. I’m going to let you in on
my top travel hack that will help you score big in the sales – bagging
yourself a free holiday, just by doing your ordinary shopping.

I can truthfully say, there is no catch. The more you spend, the
greater your getaway.

So, what’s the secret? Avios. But not in the way you know it.

You’ll likely have heard of the flight rewards system, whereby travel
spend is converted into points that can be redeemed against flights,
hotels, shopping and more.

The chances are, however, you’re not using the system properly. And by that, I mean reaping mega benefits every time you spend.

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I’m not just talking about flight spend. You can earn points every
time you catch the train to work, fill up your car with fuel, or do
your weekly grocery shop.

Say hello to the Avios portal. I believe it to be the BEST
points-benefits system out there for travellers – and I’m an avid
subscriber to rewards schemes (special nod to my Boots card and the
MyWaitrose account).

Right now, I am just shy of enough points to fly to New York City in
business class with British Airways (I have 80,000 to be exact).

A business class seat would cost me 88,000 points flying at an
off-peak time. Although I would still have to pay a £199.50 flat fee,
a nominal charge that covers taxes, carrier fees and a fixed Avios
amount.

That cost is small, though, when you consider the fact that the
absolute cheapest business class flight you can currently book to NYC
with British Airways is £1,832 – and that’s in the January sale,
meaning I would have saved a minimum of £1,600 by using points.

To put this into a wider perspective, I could also fly to Sydney in
Australia (55,000 points) or Tokyo and back again (38,500 points each
way) or even to Amsterdam and back again up to FOUR times (10,000
points each way).

Flat fees are tiny on short-haul flights too, with costs to
destinations like Amsterdam, Corfu and Gran Canaria capped at just £1
as opposed to the near £200 for my fancy NYC business class seat.

My high points score has nothing to do with me being a travel editor,
either. In fact, I earn very little from my adventures through work
and barely anything from flights alone.

Instead, it’s my regular, everyday spending that helps me earn big with Avios.

My commute to work, my trips to the BP for fuel and my incessant
fashion purchases on ASOS are what stacks those points up.

Better still, if you’re doing a big splurge in the January sales, you
can rake them in thick and fast.

So, how does it work and where can you earn?

Thousands of retailers have partnerships with the Avios store. You can
earn when you spend on hotels, homeware, sports, fashion, toys,
attractions and entertainment from Argos and TravelZoo to Boots and
Alton Towers.

The number of points you earn varies per retailer, for example when
you purchase from M&S Flowers & Hampers you will earn up to 24 Avios
per £1 spent, whereas booking a rail journey through Trainline will
earn you 1 Avios per £1 spent.

Many retailers have bonus offers for January, including Booking.com where you can bag 8 Avios per £1 until January 31, up from 4 Avios per £1 and Viator which has a 12 Avios per £1 offer until February 7, 2026.

My rule of thumb whenever I shop for something (big or small) is:
check whether the retailer I want to buy from is on the Avios shop,
and if not, can I buy the product I want from another retailer that
will earn me points?

To collect points on in-store purchases, you simply have to link  your
card – any card – to your account and spend on this card in
Avios-linked stores.

To make online purchases, you have to register your visit to the
retailers website by first going through the Avios shop website
(avios.com).

Simply log on, click on ‘collect avios’ and search for the retailer in the ‘search for brands’ box.

Once you’ve found the retailer, click on ‘shop now’ to register your visit and carry out your online shopping as you would normally. It really is that simple.

If, like me, you do a lot of shopping on your phone, I’d recommend
downloading the Avios app, which makes things a little easier and
keeps you logged in.

Your Avios is then redeemable with certain airlines, which includes
OneWorld Alliance partners like British Airways and Qatar Airways as
well as Aer Lingus and Vueling.

You can also book holiday packages, including flights and hotels, through British Airways Holidays.

So, how long does it take before you earn yourself enough for a free
flight or holiday? Well, that’s difficult to answer.

Last time I wrote about Avios was in April 2025 and back
then I had 57,000 points. Now I have 80,000 – so I’ve earned myself
23,000 points in 8 months, the equivalent of a return flight to
Brussels, Paris or Turin in Italy.

But I’m single and in the process of buying my first home, so my
spending is frugal.

If you use this hack to do your January sale shopping, however, you’ll
certainly be one step closer to bagging yourself a free getaway.

Here’s some useful tips for shopping through the Avios Shop….

Get yourself an Amex

First things first, get yourself an American Express (AMEX) credit
card, if you don’t already have one. Yes, you don’t technically need
one in order to collect points, but it’s an easy way to boost your
earnings. I have the free British Airways Amex.

Just make sure you pay it off in full every month. And if you don’t
trust yourself to do all of your spending on that card, start by
committing to a small and regular spend, like the weekly food shop.

If you’re successfully approved for a British Airways free Amex,
you’ll be given a bonus 5,000 Avios if you spend £2,000 in the first
three months of having the card.

It’s an incentive – and credit card companies are hoping that you forget to pay them back, so just make sure you have enough money in your current account to pay off the spend and don’t get caught out.

Link your accounts

Accounts that you use regularly like Uber are a great way of boosting
your points. You can link certain regular accounts you use to your
Avios account.

For example, I have my BPme Rewards and Uber account both linked to my Avios one, which means I don’t need to log on and register my visit as
explained above, with normal online shopping.

Everything is done automatically and I’m earning points without lifting a finger.

I book my train to work through Uber every time and it earns me a
steady and regular number of points every month.

Look for deals

Right now you can bag a bonus 50 per cent Avios with certain retailers.

There are so many deals at various times of the year. There’s
also special offers on certain deals such as The Wine Flyer, whereby
you earn a promises amount of points if you spend over a certain
figure on bottles.

Most recently, over the Christmas period, if you spent over £150 on wine through the Avios shop, you’d bag 5,000 bonus Avios on top of the usual 5 Avios per £1 spent,

But my rule is never to spend unless you really need it. The whole
point of a free holiday or flight is that you’re only spending on what
you would normally.

Sign up your parent/partner/pal

You’ll bag a bonus 500 Avios if you refer a friend – a simple referral
code does the trick.

You’ll also notice certain offers, such as a bonus 9,000 Avios if you order a second Amex linked to your account for a partner or child to spend on.

You’ll then be responsible for paying off their spend, however. But there’s nothing stopping you from ordering a second card and not passing it over to that person, though.

That way you’ll bag the bonus points without the panic. Just keep your
eyes peeled for those offers in your inbox.

For more on how to save money on your next travel trip, read more from one woman who flies every month and does 7 things to save herself cash.

 And here are our Sun-approved booking tips, plane hacks and travel products that can save you hundreds on holiday.

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.

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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.

CHRISTMAS and New Year’s sales are starting to emerge and this means you could grab some bargain flights.

EasyJet has already launched its Big Orange Sale with up to 20 percent off flights departing between January 5 and December 13, 2026.

If you grab a bargain today, it could even make the ideal last-minute Christmas gift.

You can book discounted fares for as little as £14.49 from now until February 3, 2026.

Destinations include some of the budget airline’s newest routes, such as Tbilisi in Georgia and the Scandinavian Mountains in Sweden.

Alternatively, if you wanted to head off on a ski trip you could fly to top ski destinations in Europe, such as Grenoble in France, Geneva in Switzerland and Innsbruck in Austria.

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Perhaps cold holidays aren’t your thing? Then why not head off to some winter sun spots including Enfidha in Tunisia, Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt and Marrakech in Morocco.

Specific flights include London Gatwick to Palma, in Majorca, from £18.99.

As the capital of the Balearic Islands, Palma is known for its Gothic Cathedral, historic Old Town and of course, pretty beaches.

Or if you fancy relaxing, head to Palma Beach, which is just a short distance from the city centre and boasts turquoise waters, soft sand and a number of nearby restaurants.

If you live near Bristol, you could head to Bordeaux in France for just £14.49.

Known as the wine capital of France, Bordeaux is home to the UNESCO World Heritage ‘Port of the Moon’ with 18th century architecture.

Across Bordeaux, you will find around 6,000 wineries, producing mostly red wine.

If you happen to live in or near Birmingham, for £17.99 you could head to one of the major fashion capitals of the world – Milan, Italy.

While in the city, Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) is also worth visiting; it has Gothic features and you can climb the roof for panoramic views of the city.

From Manchester you could head to Madrid from £21.49 per person.

The capital of Spain is home to many sites to explore that are ideal for history lovers, such as the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park.

There are also several museums, such as the Prado Museum – the main Spanish national art museum – and Reina Sofia Museum home to a collection of 20th-century art.

And if you fancy a holiday package, easyJet is also offering up to £400 off of all easyJet holidays.

For this discount to apply you have to spend a minimum of £4,000 though.

Or you could get £300 off of a £3,000 spend, £150 off of a £1,500 spend, £100 off an £800 spend and £50 off a £500 spend with the code ‘BIGSALE’.

You will need to book before 11pm on March 3, 2026, and then travel between now and October 31, 2027.

All easyJet holiday packages include flights and a hotel, with 23kg luggage per person and transfers if booking a beach holiday.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: “By launching our Big Orange Sale today, customers can take advantage of our great value fares and make plans for a well-deserved break to look forward to in 2026.

“With over 45 new routes from the UK available for next year, customers can choose from flights and package holidays to up to 140 destinations across Europe and beyond, whether that’s to return to their top holiday hotspot, or discover somewhere new.

“We look forward to welcoming millions of customers onboard in 2026 and we remain focused on providing them with low-cost travel, flying them where they want to go, and always aiming to make the travel experience easy.”

In other aviation news, there are six new holiday destinations getting Wizz Air flights – and one is a UK-first.

Plus, seven short-haul destinations perfect for a January holiday with flights from £14.99.

IF you want to make 2026 the year of family-friendly days out from theme parks to aquariums, castles and waxwork museums – take advantage of the Merlin Black Friday Sale.

You can save up to £60 on an annual pass that will allow you entry to around 20 attractions across the country – but the offer ends very soon.

Until December 21, you can get £60 off a Merlin Essential yearly pass, costing just £79 rather than £139.

With this, you can enter over 20 top attractions for 339 days out of the year.

Some of the attractions include Alton Towers which is perfect for families who love rollercoasters, or those wanting to try out the Bluey ride in its CBeebies Land.

The pass also allows entry to Chessington World of Adventures, which has a new PAW-Patrol themed land, and Legoland Windsor Resort.

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Over at Thorpe Park, thrill-seekers can try out the UK’s tallest rollercoaster Hyperia which is 236ft high and 81mph.

It’s not all rollercoasters and rides though, as those who want a more relaxed day can delve into history at Warwick Castle.

In London, step onto the red carpet at Madame Tussauds or go back in time to explore the capital’s scary past in London Dungeon.

For foodies, in Birmingham there’s Cadbury World families can uncover the story of Cadbury chocolate – and get to taste some too.

Jordan Middleton, Head of Merlin Annual Pass, commented on the sale: “Just in time for the festive season, our Black Friday Magic Sale has great savings of up to £60.

“With offers starting at just £79 – which is equal to just £1.52 per week – Merlin Annual Pass is the gift for those who you have no idea what to buy.”

There are two other pass options.

One is the Gold Pass which is also in the Black Friday sale for £199 rather than £239 – a saving of £40.

This has extra benefits including free parking, up to 20 per cent discount on food, drinks and retail, up to 20 per cent off short breaks at themed Resort hotels.

And there’s discounted entry for family and friends and less restricted access to the attractions.

The Platinum annual pass remains at £299 per person per year with all the perks of the Gold Pass, along with guaranteed entry all year round with no restrictions.

Platinum Passholders will also receive free Fastrack Resort Theme Parks and free tickets for family and friends, with no restrictions throughout the year.

All attractions included in the Merlin yearly passes…

Alton Towers Resort

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Legoland Windsor Resort

London Eye

Thorpe Park

Sea LIFE – London, Birmingham, Manchester, Blackpool, Brighton, Weymouth, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Scarborough, Loch Lomond

Warwick Castle

Madame Tussauds, London

Shrek’s Adventure! London

Legoland Discovery Centre, Birmingham & Manchester

London Dungeon

York Dungeon

Edinburgh Dungeon

Cadbury World

Plus, check out inside the Alton Towers’ new Bluey-themed hotel room – where the theme tune plays as you enter.

And here’s more on the UK’s ‘best’ castle with live jousting tournaments, Zog playground and brand-new medieval-themed hotel.