The last-minute one-night holidays from £75pp with flights AND hotel included
A NIGHT away in the UK can get expensive surprisingly quickly, once you’ve factored in fuel, dinner, drinks and expensive hotels.
So, I’ve been looking at what happens if you stick a flight on either end and head somewhere with a bit more va-va-voom – and found it could actually be CHEAPER.
One night away isn’t just a crazy idea – our booking figures at On The Beach show people are already choosing to head away for just one night, spending an average of around £200pp on flights and a hotel.
A quick change of scenery, dinner somewhere different and a night away from the usual routine – there’s a lot to like about that!
But you can actually do it for considerably less than that average; I’ve found seven one-night getaways from £75pp, including Dublin, Paris and the Algarve, but as you’d expect, the secret is in the flight times.
Leave in the morning and fly back the following evening, and one night away can give you a decent chunk of two days to explore – here’s how I’d do it.
1. Dublin one-nighter from £100pp
Dublin makes a very convincing case for the one-night holiday: good pubs, plenty to wander around and an evening that can start with “just the one” and develop its own itinerary from there.
The one-night wonder-deal I found is at easyHotel Dublin City Centre in Smithfield, a simple base for a trip where the city is the main attraction.
And at £100pp for flights and a night away, I can happily live without a pillow menu.
You leave Stansted at 6:35am on November 30, landing at 7:55am, then the flight home leaves Dublin at 8:35pm the following day.
I’d start day one with breakfast, then have a walk along the Liffey and across the Ha’penny Bridge.
Spend the afternoon exploring the centre, with a look around Grafton Street and a coffee stop whenever the early start catches up with you.
That evening, book somewhere for dinner, then find a pub with live music or wander through Temple Bar if you fancy it, but don’t feel obliged to spend the entire evening there.
After a night’s sleep, get a proper breakfast and take your time over the bits you missed with some more shops and a lazy lunch – before getting back in time for own bed.
2. Belfast one-nighter from £75pp
Seventy-five quid each for flights and a hotel – that’s just £150 for two people to have an actual night away, which is a very pleasing place to start before you’ve even chosen where to eat.
The deal I found is at The 1852, which has an on-site restaurant and two bars – handy if the plan for the first drink is simply “as soon as we’ve put our bags down”.
You fly from Manchester at 6:15am on November 18, arriving at 7:15am, then the return leaves Belfast at 5:20pm the next day.
I’d spend the first day getting a feel for the city centre, taking in City Hall and stopping for lunch before having a look around the Cathedral Quarter.
Come back here for dinner and drinks too.
The next morning, have breakfast and head towards Queen’s University for a wander around the university area.
Or, if you fancy something indoors, make the Ulster Museum your main stop.
Finish with lunch and one last Guinness before it’s time to head home.
3. Albufeira one-nighter from £80pp
This is the one that made me check the price twice.
A night in the Algarve, including flights, for £80pp – just £160 for two of you to go and have dinner and a night out in Portugal. Very, very tempting.
The deal I found is at Paladim & Alagoamar on a Self Catering basis, giving you the option to sort breakfast yourself.
The flight leaves London Stansted at 9:35am on November 29 and lands in Faro at 12:25pm, before you fly home at 7:15pm on November 30.
I’d keep the first afternoon simple: have a wander around Albufeira’s old town, make your way down towards the beach and stop for a late lunch or a drink with a view, before getting ready for dinner out together.
The following morning, have breakfast and head out for another seaside walk before finding somewhere for lunch.
It’s late November, so I’d make the trip about the coast, the food and the change of scenery – any sunbathing weather is a bonus rather than the thing the entire holiday depends on.
But Albufeira is still busy, with a decent amount of sunshine and looks gorgeous around this time of year.
4. Paris one-nighter from £125pp
“I’ve booked us a night in Paris” is a fairly efficient way of making a date night sound like you’ve put some serious effort in – but this deal is just £125 each, so won’t break the bank.
The deal I found is at hotelF1 Paris Porte de Montreuil, a straightforward budget base.
You leave Birmingham at 5:55am on November 15 and land at Paris Beauvais at 08:05am, with the return departing at 4:45pm the next day, getting you back for teatime.
I’d build the first day around a walk along the Seine, a look at the sights and a good lunch.
Choose one landmark you really want to see, rather than trying to collect the entire city before dinner.
Then spend the evening over a meal and a wander through Paris after dark – that’s plenty of romance for one day.
After a night’s sleep, find a café for coffee and breakfast, then have a final look around before heading home.
I’d keep the second morning nice and easy – there’s no need to make the last memory of your romantic break a furious speed-walk.
5. Amsterdam one-nighter from £135pp
Amsterdam is a good choice for a break where you don’t need to book something every hour, because this is the perfect place for wandering the streets and accidentally finding something unexpected to do.
The deal I found is at New West Inn in Nieuw-West – it’s a little out from the centre but has an on-site pizza corner, handy for a first or last meal in the city.
The flights give you plenty to work with: leave London Gatwick at 6am on November 30 and land at 8:25am, then fly home at 9:25pm the next day, getting back before 10pm.
One hotel night, with room to enjoy both days.
I’d spend day one exploring the canals, browsing the independent shops around the Nine Streets and stopping for lunch.
In the afternoon, carry on into the Jordaan, then find somewhere for dinner and settle into the evening – a couple of good food stops and a few miles of canal-side strolling make a very lovely first day.
The next morning, choose one bigger activity: a canal cruise or a museum you’ve been wanting to visit.
Book ahead where needed, then leave yourself time for a late lunch and another wander before the flight home.
6. Benidorm one-nighter from £120pp
A one-night Benidorm trip sounds like the kind of suggestion someone makes three pints into a Friday (speaking from experience).
But at £120pp including flights and a hotel, it actually deserves a sober second look.
The deal I found is at Benidorm City Olympia in the Old Town, with two beaches within walking distance and, for a short trip, having things you want to do close to your hotel is a big plus.
You leave Manchester at 7am on November 26 and arrive in Alicante at 10:50am, with the flight home leaving at 11pm the next day (landing around 1am on November 28) so loads of time to explore on your second day.
Worth remembering when you’re deciding what time to set the alarm the following morning.
I’d spend the first afternoon exploring the Old Town, stopping for tapas and taking a walk along the seafront.
Then get ready for the evening and take your pick of somewhere lively or a longer, quieter dinner – if you’ve ever been, you’ll know that Benidorm can accommodate both with ease.
After breakfast the next day, head out for another promenade walk, a coffee and a leisurely lunch or, if the weather‘s kind, have some time by the beach.
7. Copenhagen one-nighter from £145pp
Copenhagen sounds pretty far away, right? Well, with a flight time under two hours it’s one of the most logical one-nighters on this list.
The deal I found is at a&o Copenhagen Norrebro, a decent base with a bar on site and room upgrades available if you wanted to splash out a little more.
You leave Stansted at 8:15am on November 22 and land at 11am, then the return departs Copenhagen at 8:40pm the following day, giving you plenty of the second day to enjoy.
I’d start with lunch and an afternoon exploring the centre, including a wander around Nyhavn’s waterfront.
Have a look around the shops, stop for coffee and make dinner your main evening plan – you don’t need to fit a second city break in after dessert.
The next morning, find a bakery and give breakfast the attention it deserves.
Then spend some time around Norrebro’s independent shops and cafés, or take a walk through the King’s Garden by Rosenborg Castle.
I’d then finish up with lunch and one final coffee before heading home.
