ANTALYA has long been the default answer for families wanting guaranteed sunshine, massive all-inclusive resorts, and enough waterslides to make returning home genuinely depressing.
But after several years of Turkey completely dominating our booking charts, I’m noticing a clear case of Antalya fatigue with Brits.
Antalya has long been popular but there are some great swaps that could save you moneyCredit: On the BeachDestinations like Sharm el Sheikh offer the same amazing waterpark hotels and and beautiful beaches but without the costCredit: Alamy
It’s still a brilliant option, but holidaymakers are starting to shop around – and discovering that plenty of other destinations have caught up.
Egypt, Tunisia, Greece, Morocco, and even Spain now boast the same mega four and five-star resorts, waterparks, and hot weather that used to make Antalya so difficult to beat.
And crucially, they can be significantly cheaper.
I’ve crunched my booking data to find where the previously most Turkey-loyal customers have swapped Antalya for in 2026, and how much cheaper they are in comparison to a Turkey holiday.
1. Playa Blanca, Lanzarote – save 19%
Lanzarote might sound like a wildcard swap, mostly because the Canaries aren’t usually associated with budget all-inclusive mega-resorts.
Playa Blanca, however, serves up a proper lineup of big family hotels alongside golden sand, a smart waterfront, and guaranteed sun.
It feels more chilled and far more walkable than many of Antalya’s sprawling hotel blocks, plus the slightly shorter flight from the UK is a godsend if you’re traveling with kids who ask if you’re nearly there before you’ve even cleared the runway.
Our data shows that the customers who made this switch in 2026 pocketed a 19% saving on average.
And the hotel that topped the swap charts here is the four-star HL Paradise Island – where I clocked five nights all-inclusive here from £295pp, flying direct from London Gatwick this September.
And it’s easy to understand why people are making the switch here when you spot their on-site Dino Waterpark, which is packed with proper drop slides, splash zones, and multi-lane racers that keep kids of all ages busy.
Lanzarote – from £295pp
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This Rhodes hotel has nine outdoor pools – including a pirate splash parkCredit: On the Beach
Rhodes is the ultimate Greek swap for anyone who loves the scale of Antalya but wants a slightly fresh landscape.
The southeastern resort of Kiotari is tailor-made for this: it’s quieter and completely hotel-focused, featuring massive beachfront properties, reliable heat, and ancient Lindos sitting just 20 minutes down the road when you want to swap the sunlounger for a spot of culture.
Hundreds of customers shifted their booking from Antalya to Rhodes, saving an average of 20% in the process.
The absolute favourite with these switching customers was the four-star Kiotari Miraluna Beach Resort where you can grab five nights all-inclusive from £338pp, flying direct from Gatwick in late September.
It sits right on the sand and boasts nine outdoor pools – including a pirate splash park – alongside nine different bars and restaurants.
Plus, several room options here offer direct swim-up pool access straight from your terrace. And everyone loves a swim-up room, right?
Rhodes – from £338pp
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Switching Antalya for Calas de Majorca in 2026 saved Brits around 20%Credit: On the Beach
Majorca is the ultimate low-effort swap if you want the convenience of an Antalya all-inclusive without putting your kids through a four-hour flight.
Calas de Mallorca on the east coast is a purpose-built family pocket surrounded by quiet coves and crystal-clear water.
It’s far more relaxed than Magaluf or Alcudia, with the hotels doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to entertainment.
Switching Antalya for Calas de Majorca in 2026 saved Brits around 20%, according to the stats.
And the most popular hotel to switch to here was the four-star HYB Eurocalas – and I spotted five nights all-inclusive here from £318pp, flying direct from Birmingham on 24th September.
This hotel’s a massive family favorite on our board, packing in multiple pool zones, sports courts, splash parks, and a dedicated kids’ club. No brainer.
Majorca – from £318pp
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Marrakech offers both a proper city break AND a flop-and-drop resort holiday rolled into oneCredit: On the Beach
People usually associate Marrakech with bustling souks and rooftop tea, but step outside the city center and you’ll find some seriously massive all-inclusive resorts.
The Palmeraie area sits in a quiet palm grove outside the old city, giving you sprawling hotels, massive pools, and mountain backdrops.
You get something Antalya can rarely deliver: a proper city break AND a flop-and-drop resort holiday rolled into one.
Our figures show that customers who swapped Antalya for Marrakech for their all-inclusive resort holiday bagged an average 21% saving.
And the four-star Marrakech Ryads Parc & Spa is the value highlight and the most popular for a switch. I found five nights all-inclusive here from £240pp, flying direct from Gatwick in late September which is absolutely perfect weather-wise.
This hotel has the exact scale, massive pool footprint, and self-contained feel of a Turkish mega-resort, but adds a free daily shuttle into the medina when you want to explore.
Marrakech – from £240pp
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The Hurghada coastline is wall-to-wall with all-inclusives, private beaches, and on-site waterparks,Credit: On the Beach
Hurghada is an absolute slam-dunk if you care purely about the resort footprint rather than the destination town.
The coastline is wall-to-wall with all-inclusives, private beaches, and on-site waterparks, while the guaranteed Egyptian heat makes it a goldmine for late-season breaks.
Hurghada was also the third most-popular destination that people traded Antalya for, bagging an average 21% saving.
And the most popular hotel people made the switch for was the four-star Rewaya Inn Resort.
Probably because this place gives you the full Turkish mega-resort experience without the hefty price tag – it’s a proper fly-and-flop complex anchored around an enormous lagoon-style pool network.
You can lock in five nights all-inclusive from £393pp, flying direct from London right at the start of September
Hurghada – from £393pp
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Don’t discount Benidorm as a great Turkey swapCredit: On the Beach
On paper, Benidorm and Antalya look like completely different beasts, but they serve the exact same holiday brief: tons of hotel choice, guaranteed sun, world-class beaches, and enough family entertainment to fill every evening.
Benidorm just pulls it all closer together – and cuts an chunk off your flight time.
Our booking data shows an average saving of 22% for Brits who switched from Antalya to the Costa Blanca, with their new holidays averaging £92 per person, per night. Not bad.
The four-star Rosamar Hotel topped the charts when it came to switches.
I clocked five nights all-inclusive here from £285pp, flying direct from Gatwick at the end of September.
It sits right near Levante Beach and has a brilliant on-site splash park loaded with slides and water features, essentially acting as a cheat code for tiring out energetic kids before bedtime.
Benidorm – from £285pp
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The Red Sea offers some of the best house-reef snorkeling in the worldCredit: On the Beach
Sharm El Sheikh is the single closest direct alternative to Antalya on the map.
You get scorching temperatures, all-inclusive mega-resorts, massive pool complexes, and hotels designed so you never actually have to leave the gates.
The massive bonus here though is the Red Sea itself, which offers some of the best house-reef snorkeling in the world right off the hotel jetties.
A staggering amount of customers swapped Antalya for Sharm El Sheikh – more than any other spot on this list – all while saving an average of 23%.
One of the most popular hotels in Sharm is the five-star Rehana Sharm Resort in Nabq Bay where I found five nights all-inclusive from £413pp, flying direct from London slap-bang in the middle of September.
This hotel’s a cracker too, and features a sprawling pool network, an aquapark, kids’ clubs, and several dining options – but best of all, it sits just six miles from the airport, so you can go from baggage reclaim to sunbed in record time.
Sharm el Sheikh – from £413pp
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Sousse combines massive beachfront resorts with an authentic historic medinaCredit: On the Beach
If your absolute priority is getting the maximum amount of resort facilities per pound spent, Tunisia should be right at the top of your list.
Sousse combines massive beachfront resorts with an authentic historic medina, fine sand, and the smart marina at Port El Kantaoui just down the road.
And hundreds and hundreds of people swapped Antalya for Tunisia, averaging a rock-bottom £70 per person, per night on their Tunisian holiday.
That makes it the cheapest destination on this list and delivers the biggest average saving at 25%. A popular Tunisian destination is the four-star Royal Jinene Sousse.
This hotel’s built directly on its own private sandy beach and features indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, and a dedicated beach bar – meaning the distance between your lounger and a cold drink is virtually zero.
And if you fancy it, you can grab five nights all-inclusive this September from just £243pp. Bargain.
Sousse – from £243pp
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EUROSTAR is launching new trains to a European city for the first time ever.
Often overlooked in favour of other Belgian destinations like Brussels and Bruges, the new train route will connect London to Antwerp.
Eurostar is introducing direct trains from London St Pancras this yearCredit: AlamyThe city has trendy cafes, high-end restaurants and its own urban beachCredit: Alamy
Antwerp handles around 80 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds – and the diamond district itself is a popular tourist spot with cafes and bars.
There are even diamond history tours and cutting workshops for those who really want to delve into it.
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Antwerp’s Borgerhout neighbourhood east of the city centre was voted one of the ‘coolest in the world‘ by Time Out last year.
Some of the most popular spots in the area include the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp which holds live events like DJ and music evenings during the summer.
He said: “There are tons of places to sample the dizzying local delights. The best is Bier Central (De Keyserlei 25), where the 120-page ‘BeerCyclopediaa’ offers over 100 different concoctions.
“Following a local’s tip, I opt for a “Trappist” drink, meaning it was brewed by monks . . . in a monastery. It’s generally a mark of higher ethical and quality standards.”
And if you’re a foodie, then Antwerp will be right up your street as it has 17 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Those heading to Antwerp will be able to get there in under 3 hours on the EurostarCredit: Alamy
Antwerp sits on the banks of the Scheldt River and it even has its own urban beach.
Currently those wanting to visit Antwerp can head to Brussels where they need to hop on a connecting train.
But from December 14, the high-speed rail service will operate four direct services from London St Pancras each day.
These will take just two hours and 41 minutes.
The Eurostar will stop at Antwerp-Centraal station which often takes the crown for the world’s most beautiful railway terminal.
Royal Museum of Fine Arts often holds live music events outside during the summerCredit: AlamyAntwerp Train Station is considered one of the most beautiful in the worldCredit: Alamy
So it’ll be a good excuse to take a look around its beautiful marble interior before heading into the city.
The only small hiccup is there are no direct return trains from Antwerp to London, so you will have to change.
Talking to Head for Points, Eurostar said: “Customers travelling from Antwerp to London can book a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket on eurostar.com, connecting via Brussels-Midi where UK border and security checks take place.
“There are currently no plans to introduce direct services from Antwerp to London, as this would require dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerp-Centraal.”
While Zimbabwe welcomed 1.78million tourists in 2025, 76 per cent of this was from Africa.
Despite this, the UK is the biggest market for the city when it comes to European arrivals.
Harare is known as the City of Sunshine for its sunny weather all year round thanks to it high altitude.
It is also much better to visit in the autumn and winter, as this is where highs of 30C can be found (compared to the cooler summers of 20C).
The new flights come after 14 years, with the last ones in 2011Credit: AlamyIt is often called the Sunshine City for its great weatherCredit: Alamy
The city is also known for its beautiful green spaces, such as Mukuvisi Woodlands where you can everything from zebras and giraffes to wildebeast and impalas.
It also a great jumping off point for going on safari, or visiting Victoria Falls.
Here are some other new flights launching in the UK soon:
I’m not sure I’ll be working as a bartender in Lima any time soon.
Thankfully the city has more than enough of them, with the Peruvian capital often named a top food and drink destination.
The place may be nicknamed Lima La Gris (from the large grey clouds that frequent the sky) but the city is certainly colourful when it comes to both gastronomy and architecture.
One of its brightest districts is the vibrant and noisy Barranco.
Often referred to as among the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, the bohemian area is popular with surfers heading to the beach and art lovers adding to the hundreds of muralled walls.
Walking down the street is a feast for the eyes with men playing guitars outside multi-coloured houses, while cyclists zoom past with wetsuits on.
With more than 200 pieces of artwork across the neighbourhood, it feels more like an open-air art gallery.
And the city is fast making a name for itself when it comes to food, with many award-winning restaurants also found here.
One of those is Mayta, a World’s 50 Best Restaurants winner in Miraflores, made up of structured wood and concrete blocks.
While the seven-course tasting menu was tempting, I didn’t have four hours to kill, so opted for the à la carte.
I started with the fresh and zingy limey ceviche before I filled up on their take on paella with a crispy rice parcel surrounding shrimp.
For something a little more wallet-friendly, in the Miraflores neighbourhood, I found Parque Kennedy, known for its huge number of street vendors selling cheap snacks.
For around a fiver, my hands were quickly filled with herbal “emoliente” drinks that stave off hangovers, picarones (sweet doughnuts made of squash) with honey and chicharron pork sandwiches.
Peruvians love massive portions, I soon found out. And I was told that the best way to work off all the food would be to hit the waves, of course.
But with my surf skills lacking, I instead opted for a bike tour of the city, taking in the spectacular coastline, as well as the famous Love Park.
Inspired by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, sculptor Víctor Delfín built a wall of tiles, surrounding the famous El Beso sculpture of couples embracing.
Peru’s huge exports of coffee and chocolate mean you can barely walk five minutes without spotting a chocolataria.
As a self-professed choc expert, I was extremely smug after one cocoa class, naming all of the regions I tasted correctly.
A few hours away, Peru’s tiny second city of Arequipa, in the shade of the Misti volcano, is even more overlooked than Lima, yet the food is just as incredible.
My favourite way to spend the morning was jogging in the main central square, watching the sunrise over the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa.
That running was preparing my body for yet more fantastic restaurants.
There was the vibey 13 Monjas (13monjas.com), with huge portions of Peruvian inspired pasta and Chica (chicha.com.pe) with yet more huge portions of fish tacos.
The Misti volcano in the AndesCredit: PROMPERÚThe Sun’s Kara Godfrey in a selfie with animalsCredit: Kara Godfrey
Yet there was one thing missing from my trip to Peru so far — and that was a cuddle with a llama.
Leaving the cosmopolitan cities, I went in search of the fluffy animals through the Colca Canyon region.
We sped through arid deserts, barely seeing a soul, bar a few locals by an abandoned train track.
Ears popped as we climbed the mountains across Lord Of The Rings-esque epic landscapes.
I was warned to expect some altitude sickness and I was certainly unsteady on my feet as we hit 4,900 metres.
It’s a few hours into my journey that I gasp as I finally see them — a traffic jam of wild llamas and alpacas.
Lazily grazing on the side of the road like oversized sheep, they seemed non-plussed as they sauntered over the road in front of us.
But just seeing them wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to get up close and personal.
Our abode for the night was in the village of Sibayo with a local family who had lived in the area for generations.
It was here that we were joined by a farmer, who excitingly told us we would be going on a llama walk.
It was only as we got up close that I realised quite how tall they were, some towering over my mere 5ft 5in height.
But my excitement never dwindled.
We walked across the beautiful river as they followed me like I was their leader.
I couldn’t resist a ruffle of their heads, with their ears cutely flipping up whenever we stopped.
Returning to our lodges, the evening was spent learning how to knit and dance.
The warm hospitality was evident throughout the stay, with free bracelets and shots of alcohol while listening to music and even a hot breakfast bag before leaving.
By the end of our stay, there were hugs all around, with our guide telling us how he always feels sad saying goodbye to tourists.
A feeling that is mutual it seems from the full guestbook of goodbyes.
I wasn’t ready to return to cold England that’s for sure – but a bag full of local coffee and alpaca socks certainly helped.
In each of the past three years, questions have been raised about whether the French Open should do more to showcase the women’s game.
“I don’t think they have daughters, because I don’t think they want to treat their daughters like this,” said Jabeur.
The lack of action prompted recently appointed WTA chief executive Valerie Camillo to seek answers from French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo – a former women’s world number one – when they met at Roland Garros this week.
In what the WTA describes as an open and productive conversation, Camillo underlined her belief that women’s players have delivered some of the “most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport” over recent months and years.
It remains to be seen whether Camillo’s call for action is listened to.
Mauresmo has consistently argued that the danger of women’s matches going “really fast” is the justification behind the choices.
With tickets ranging from €60 to €280 (£50 to £240), tournament organisers think the possibility of a short two-set women’s match does not represent value for money.
Mauresmo has insisted the night sessions will not be extended to two matches – like the Australian Open and US Open – in fear of creating late finishes.
Will the French Open be swayed? It refused to waver last year, despite pressure from players, the women’s governing body and – according to reports, external – broadcasters.
Former world number one Osaka will meet Aryna Sabalenka – the current top women’s player – in the last 16 on Monday.
The Japanese player said she did not know if that blockbuster match would be under consideration for the night session, but added she felt the slot was reserved for “popcorn matches”.
If Osaka against Sabalenka does not fulfil the French Open’s criteria, it feels like nothing will.
“I hope it will change,” added Ostapenko.
“Even if it’s not me playing, I would like to see some women’s matches there. But I don’t know that we will.”
A plane recently had to be diverted after a passenger forget their electronics in their hold luggage
Ash Bhardwaj recalled almost being caught out by this important rule himself(Image: BBC)
Air travel comes with a long list of things people can and can’t take with them depending on how it’s packed. However, one travel expert is urging people to pay more attention to an often overlooked electronic that can’t be packed into your big suitcases going in the hold of the plane.
Travel journalist Ash Bhardwaj warned people to take any electronics with lithium batteries into the cabin in their hand luggage and not to stow it away in the hold. He explained that this is due to a serious fire risk and while fires in the cabin can be handled, fires in the luggage hold could prove to be a far greater issue.
Ash joined Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones on the rooftop of BBC’s Morning Live studio to soak in some sunshine as the hot temperatures continuing rolling out across the country.
He highlighted one recent easyJet flight bound for the UK actually had to be diverted to Rome because a passenger realised they had left one of their lithium batteries in the hold.
Ash revealed he’d had to make this lithium battery check himself at the airport once: “We were in Vietnam, flying back home, and I saw these signs about not being allowed lithium batteries in your hold luggage. I was checking everything; ‘Is this one a lithium battery, like the fan for the baby carrier’.”
To be sure, Ash opted to put everything he suspected of maybe having a lithium battery into his hand luggage.
He continued: “Basically, it’s a fear of the batteries catching fire. If you’ve got it on you, in the cabin, in your hand luggage, that’s fine because if anything does happen the crew can deal with it.
“The key thing don’t put power banks in your checked luggage they need to come with you.”
Each airline may have different rules around what batteries and electronics must be kept in the cabin with you so it’s best to check with your airline before flying.
In general, spare batteries and power banks should only go into carry-on baggage. You may need to carefully pack these to prevent the circuit from shorting out, for example by putting it back in the retail packaging or placing each battery into a separate protective pouch according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
This protection must also prevent the item from being accidentally turned on or damaged during the flight. Some power banks may also require approval from the airline operator to be taken onboard.
DISCOVERING a destination that feels like you’re living a fairytale is always fun, but it is even better when the place has less crowds.
Annecy in France is often overlooked by its busier neighbour – Geneva in Switzerland.
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Annecy in France is found at the edge of Lake AnnecyCredit: AlamyAnd the charming town is only 45 minutes from Geneva in SwitzerlandCredit: Alamy
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But according to Holiday Pirates, the destination feels as if it’s been “lifted straight from a fairytale”.
The lakeside town can be found near the Swiss border and to get there, travellers can head to Geneva Airport and drive under an hour across the border to Annecy.
And just like a fairytale, the town has its own castle… in the middle of the water.
Le Palais de l’Isle dates back to the medieval period and sits in the middle of the Thiou Canal, which stretches around two miles long and is an outlet of Lake Annecy – Europe‘s cleanest lake.
The canal flows through the Old Town and is the reason Annecy got its nickname as the ‘Venice of the Alps’.
Three times a week there is also a market in the townCredit: AlamyThere’s even a famous bridge where people believe if you kiss your partner, you’ll stay togetherCredit: Alamy
And travellers can visit the castle as well, which also used to be a prison but is now a museum where you can see the preserved cells and learn about the architectural history of Annecy.
It costs just £3.46 per person to visit.
It isn’t just the castle that makes the town fairytale-like though; visitors can also explore pastel-coloured houses in the Old Town and bridges covered in flowers that cross the canal.
For a nice walk, you can wander the entire length of the canal from Lake Annecy to the Fier River via a flat trail.
On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, there’s a market in the Old Town as well.
Like all fairytale towns, there is a castle as well which sits in the middle of the canalCredit: Alamy
On Tuesdays, the market sells local produce and then on Fridays and Sundays the market is slightly bigger, with other goods such as locally-made textiles also sold.
You’ll find Musée-Château d’Annecy in the Old Town too, where visitors can browse regional sculptures and paintings.
For those who like seeing nature and wildlife, head to Parc Animalier de la Grande Jeanne, which is an open-air zoo with free admission.
Across the park visitors can see different types of deer and goats, with one recent visitor commenting: “The hike included a beautiful lookout point over the city”.
At the edge of the park you’ll find Basilique de la Visitation – a 20th- century cathedral with views of the surrounding mountains from its bell tower.
Also at the edge of the park is Plage des Marquisats, which is a small lake-side pebble beach with crystal-clear water and free entry.
For couples visiting, make sure to cross the Pont des Amours bridge near Jardins de l’Europe – a tree-lined lakeside park; kissing on the bridge is supposed to lead to a lifetime together.
From the town you can rent a bike and cycle your way around Lake Annecy on a 26-mile dedicated loop, stopping off at the quaint villages along the way including the medieval village of Duingt, with stone buildings and narrow alleys.
Across the town there are many places to stay, including hotels with views of the lakeCredit: Alamy
When it comes to eating in Annecy, there are tons of local cafes and restaurants to choose from.
The destination is known for its melted cheese, including Fondue, Raclette and Tartiflette, which includes potatoes, bacon and melted Reblochon cheese.
Thanks to its lakeside location, a lot of restaurants also serve fresh fish.
If you fancy a pint you can even head to a pub, such as Captain Pub, with a wooden bar and tall stools inside.
You can expect to pay around €4.70 (£4.06) for a pint in most places, or for a glass of wine, €6 (£5.18).
Typical cuisine in the town includes melted cheese and fresh fishCredit: Alamy
