Thailand

LOOKING for a holiday where your cash goes further? These destinations have been revealed as the best value for money.

Skyscanner recently unveiled its list of top spots across the world where the price of flights has dropped the most – and in some cases, hotels too.

At the very top of the Skyscanner list is the city of Bilbao which has seen a 66 per cent drop in flight prices from last year.

It’s a great choice for Brits too as it’s the closest Spanish city to the UK taking less than two hours to get there.

One-way flights to Bilbao can be as little as £20 with with the cost of hotels down by 63 per cent from last year, rooms start from £29 on Booking.com.

If you fancy booking a whole trip, with loveholidays the cost of a seven-night break to Bilbao in April 2027 starts from £42pppn.

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As Bilbao is that it doesn’t get as many tourists as lots of other Spanish cities, it’s a lot quieter than its neighbours.

In 2025, just 1.6 million visited Bilbao last year compared to 16 million in Barcelona.

There’s lots to see too like the neighbourhood of Iralabarri which has been compared to Notting Hill thanks to its colourful town houses.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey who visited earlier this year suggested heading its top attraction, the Guggenheim Bilbao museum which is filled with modern and contemporary art.

When it comes to food, Kara attempted the art of txikiteo which is where you hop between tapas bars for snacks and drinks.

Kara added: “My number one spot was Cafe Bar Bilbao for its tasty pork sliders, as well as Taberna Ona for freshly sliced Iberian ham. 

“The most famous Bilbao drink is txakoli, a Basque white wine which you can find pretty much anywhere.

“Squeeze into the family-run Taberna Basaras, a tiny bar with barrels for tables and bottles from floor to ceiling, for a hearty glass. You might also spot the locals ordering a mariano, a vermouth “daytime” cocktail that’s lighter than a negroni.”

The second city on the list is Wrocław in Poland which has had a flight price drop of 47 per cent.

One writer who recently visited called it one of Europe’s ‘best-kept city-break secrets‘.

The Polish city has colourful market squares with cobbled streets and tall pastel townhouses.

It’s known as a city of festivals with lots going on throughout the year from films and jazz to classical music.

If you fancy visiting during the festive period, Wroclaw’s Christmas market is one of the largest in Poland.

One-way flights to Wroclaw start from £27.

With loveholidays, a three-night break in the city starts from £149pp or £50pppn.

Another place not far from the UK that has seen a drop in price is Bordeaux in France where air fares have decreased by 34 per cent.

The port city in southwestern France is known for its 18th-century architecture and wine culture.

Make sure to pop into Bassins des Lumières – a former World War Two submarine base which has been transformed into a digital art installation.

If you’re planning a summer holiday next year, a trip to Rhodes in Greece shouldn’t put a dent in your wallet.

The beautiful island is the largest of the Dodecanese and is known for having pretty beach resorts, ancient ruins and it has highs of over 30C in the summertime.

It’s seen a drop in flight prices by 22 per cent and on Skyscanner, one-way tickets are as cheap as £28.

Pula, which is considered the ‘Rome of Croatia‘ came in seventh spot.

The city on the tip of the Istrian Peninsula got its nickname from its ruins – the amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world.

The spot on the Adriatic coast has lots of history and it’s under three hours from the UK too with flights having dropped in price by 20 per cent.

Fez in Morocco came in eighth on the list with a drop of 19 per cent when it comes to flights, which are as cheap as £15.

The city in northern Morocco is known for its vibrant markets and attractions, including its ancient medina.

It’s a popular winter sun city with highs of 20C in November.

For more on Fez, Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens recently visited the city to try out cooking classes and pottery.

For more travel inspiration, Skyscanner has also revealed the 10 holiday destinations that are set to be huge next year.

This includes far-flung Kyrgyzstan to Hurghada in Egypt and pretty Greek islands.

Top 10 destinations where airfares have fallen the most…

1. Bilbao, Spain (-66%)
2. Wrocław, Poland (-47%)
3. Bordeaux, France (-34%)
4. Zürich, Switzerland (-33%)
5. Ancona, Italy (-31%)
6. Rhodes, Greece (-22%)
7. Pula, Croatia (-20%)
8. Carcassonne, France (-20%)
9. Fez, Morocco (-19%)
10. Krabi, Thailand (-15%)

Need to know

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued new ‘limited to two’ guidance for Thailand

Thailand Foreign Office travel advice change – what UK holidaymakers need to know:

• The Foreign Office has issued updated travel advice for British tourists heading to Thailand – here’s what you need to know.
• Thailand attracts over a million British holidaymakers annually, with tens of thousands living and working in popular destinations like Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
• Your passport must have at least six months’ validity from arrival date and one blank page. The FCDO warns: “You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.”
• British tourists can stay up to 30 days under the visa exemption scheme for tourism only. Business travellers need appropriate visas before departure.
• New restrictions limit visa-exempt land border entries to twice per calendar year. Air arrivals aren’t generally affected by this rule.
• All travellers must complete a digital arrival card online up to three days before arrival.
• Overstaying carries hefty penalties of 500 Thai baht (around £11) per day, rising to a maximum of of 20,000 baht (around £449). You also risk potential detention, deportation and 10-year bans.

READ THE FULL STORY: New Foreign Office Thailand alert to UK holidaymakers

His family has not heard from him in days

A man from the UK has vanished 5,000 miles away from home after missing his flight back. Bailey Singh did not board his scheduled flight back home.

The 20-year-old’s phone is now reportedly off, and he has not been in contact with family for days. He was reported missing on October 5 and was last seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand.

Bailey’s family is now pleading for anyone to come forward with information on his whereabouts. His sister Chardonnay said he may have travelled to the Pattaya area – a hotspot for Brits abroad and expats.

He is described as around 5ft 11 with dark brown eyes, curly brown hair and a goatee beard. Bailey is known to have two distinctive tattoos, including a jigsaw on his left inner arm and one behind his left ear which says ‘eleven’.

It is believed that at the time he vanished, he was wearing a blue tracksuit, a blue top and grey trainers. The family says they have contacted the UK Embassy in Thailand.

They state that they were unable to confirm whether he had been arrested or reported injured. Pleas have been shared across social media and amongst local Thai travel groups.

Mother Lisa Ely said: “He’s in Thailand and not heard from him in two days and his phone is off and his location, which is not like him.”

Chardonnay Ely said: “He has been missing for over a week in Bangkok and have suspicions he’s now in Pattaya. If anyone has any information on him please contact me.

“Me and my family are very worried and concerned for him and just want to make sure he is safe.”

Foreign Office issues updated Thailand travel guidance for Brits on Monday

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has revised its travel guidance for those planning a trip to Thailand.

The South East Asian destination is growing increasingly popular with British holidaymakers, with over a million making the journey every year. On top of this, tens of thousands of UK nationals live, work, or retire in Thailand – in locations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Phuket. To enter Thailand as a tourist, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least one blank page.

The FCDO warns: “You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.” As of September 15, 2026, if you enter Thailand on a British passport, under the visa exemption scheme, you can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only.

This does not extend to business travel, including attending conferences, meetings or other business activities. Those travelling for business purposes should secure the appropriate visa prior to departure.

New Foreign Office Thailand alert issued

New FCDO Thailand advice, issued on Monday, reads: “Visa-exempt entry for tourism through land-border immigration checkpoints is normally limited to two entries per calendar year. This restriction does not generally apply to arrivals by air.

“If you frequently enter Thailand as a tourist, immigration officials may ask for evidence of your onward travel, accommodation, or sufficient funds, and may refuse entry if they believe you are not a genuine visitor.”

All overseas nationals travelling to Thailand, whether by air, land or sea, are required to complete a digital arrival card online prior to their arrival. Travellers are able to register for an arrival card up to three days before they land.

Should you overstay your visa, you face a penalty of 500 Thai baht (around £11) per day, rising to a maximum of 20,000 baht (around £449). You also risk being detained, deported at your own cost, and banned from returning to Thailand for as long as 10 years.

Finance officials from around the world will gather in Bangkok this week under the shadow of a widening war in the Middle East, the biggest-ever energy supply shock and rising interest rates that together pose daunting risks to already-sluggish global economic growth.

The US-Israel war on Iran, now in its eighth month, and its inflationary impact are slated to dominate the agenda and sideline conversations during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, held outside Washington for the first time in three years.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters News Agency that 18,000 people were registered to attend the meetings, 4,000 more than the last off-site meetings held in Morocco in October 2023.

Notably absent will be United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who dispatched two senior officials in his stead while he handles some “domestic engagements”, a US official said. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Kevin Warsh will attend and is slated to participate in a public event with Georgieva on October 16.

Several other finance ministers were also staying home due to domestic budget and election duties, but most central bankers would attend, Georgieva said.

Bessent’s decision to skip the high-profile gathering and a meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, which the US leads this year, may frustrate counterparts amid rising tensions over the Iran war, Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s invasion, and the US move to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

Fossil energy reserve release

The Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who is keen to see lower petrol prices before November elections that could see his Republican Party lose control of Congress.

Trump on Friday announced a deal with Russia that would provide even more diesel to global markets and a temporary waiver of US sanctions designed to deprive Moscow of revenues for its ‌‌war on Ukraine. The move drew swift criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

More than one billion barrels of oil have been released, mainly from onshore commercial inventories, since the start of the war on February 28. But industry executives say the amount of oil in storage that is accessible to the global market is running low, making the market more fragile and fuelling pressure on prices.

The IMF has signalled little change in its forecast for three percent global growth in 2026, and may edge its forecast for next year slightly higher. But some countries will see downgrades, including Ukraine, now in its fifth year of war against Russia’s invasion, and Gulf countries hit by Iranian strikes and sharply reduced energy exports.

IMF research released on Tuesday showed that sharp spikes in food and energy prices are an increasingly common source of crises that drive inflation expectations higher for longer, worsen poverty and threaten economic stability.

One headache for policymakers is the growing public debt burden that is sapping growth and adding inflationary pressures. The IMF says public debt is at the highest level since World War II and will exceed 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) before 2030.

Advanced economies, led by the US, have the highest debt-to-GDP ratios, but emerging markets and low-income countries are particularly vulnerable, given a perfect storm of challenges: capital outflows in search of higher US rates, weather extremes triggered by the El Nino climate phenomenon, and a lack of investment in artificial intelligence (AI), which has mitigated negative supply shocks in the US and other rich countries.

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable given high public debt levels that will have to be renegotiated at higher interest rates. Together, they face $400bn in debt payments to external creditors in 2026, and interest payments already exceed 10 percent of revenue on average.

Many lower-income countries are worried about new IMF recommendations for loan programmes that call for fewer but deeper reforms as a condition for approving lending, a change that many fear will lead to painful austerity measures.

SEARCHING for sun in November but don’t know where to find it? Here are five great options with temperatures well over 20C.

Whether you’re after short-haul breaks or lengthy holidays, check out these destinations where you’ll certainly get a healthy dose of vitamin D.

Morocco

For a bit of autumn sun that isn’t far or breaks the bank, Morocco is a solid option.

Brits can get there in less than three hours and the country basks in highs of 24C in November, while the UK average highs of between 10-12C.

Marrakesh is one of the most popular cities with Brits with vibrant markets, souks, palaces and pretty hotels. 

Essaouira on the other hand sits on the Atlantic Coast and has sandy beaches if you fancy heading for a beach break. 

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Meanwhile, the city’s capital of Rabat is another coastal spot that’s considered an ‘understated seaside gem’ and has enormous royal palaces.

In November, return flights to Essaouira and Rabat can be as little as £28. 

Holidays are affordable too for a quick break – two adults can check into Las Palmeras in Marrakesh for four-nights from £279pp or £34.87pppn.

This includes return flights to London Gatwick, a full board stay at the four-star hotel which has an outdoor swimming pool, on-site restaurant and wellness area with treatments available.

Thailand

Thailand is a popular autumn and winter destination for Brits seeking some sun and it has highs of 34C in November.

There’s something for everyone from its bustling cities to beautiful coastlines and incredible islands.

Thailand’s capital, Bangkok was recently named the best city in the world by Conde Nast Traveller being praised for its “buzzy markets, glittering palaces and captivating religious sites unite – street food sellers dishing up tasty food between them all, of course.”

If getting out of your city and lazing about on a beautiful island is more your bag, it’s very easy to get from the mainland across to the likes of Phuket, and Koh Samui.

The likes of Eva Air and Thai Airways offer direct flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok in November from around £831.

If you opt for a stopover – these can be much cheaper with some dropping to almost half the price. 

Air Arabia offers a roundtrip from London Gatwick to Bangkok International Airport from £484 with a two hour layover at Sharjah International Airport.

With Expedia, 10-day package holidays to Bangkok are around £800 – including direct return flights and accommodation, breaks to the neighbouring island of Koh Samui package breaks here with Expedia around £760.

Dubai, UAE

Thanks to its hot desert climate and very little rainfall, Dubai is ideal for autumn sunshine.

From its luxury five-star hotels to beaches, incredible restaurants and shopping scene, Dubai is known for glitz and glamour.

However you can visit on a budget too as Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey and Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski when they visited the city.

They lots of tasty treats at the Grand Souk, like breads stuffed with cheese or Nutella for £1.22, or Iranian falooda — a sorbet-like dessert made of thin rice noodles and syrup — for £1.

When its time to cool off, head to one of Dubai’s many waterparks like Aquaventure World with day passes from £50 – but it is so huge, you’ll have to spent the day there.

With On the Beach two adults can stay for 10-nights at the Arabian Park Dubai, An Edge By Rotana Hotel from £870pp.

This is for half board and return flights from London Gatwick departing on November 21.

The hotel has a large swimming pool, gym, spa, the Wafi City shopping centre is five minutes away and it’s 20-minutes from the beach.

Dominican Republic, Caribbean

Of all the Caribbean islands, the Dominican Republic is considered one of the cheapest – and it’s 30C in November

Some of the top places to visit include Punta Cana, a town on the eastern coast known for its stunning white-sand beaches and bright blue waters.

There’s also Santo Domingo, the island’s capital, where you’ll find plenty of bars – the average price of a local beer is 150DOP (£1.78).

The Dominican Republic also has two of the best in the world; Canto de la Playa and Bahia de las Aguilas.

In the waters you’re likely to see vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays – sometimes even sharks, dolphins and humpback whales.

In November, you can get a 10-night all-inclusive holiday for two from £1,579pp.

This includes flights from London Heathrow departing on November 1 and a stay at Whala Boca Chica.

It’s a four-star beachside hotel with two outdoor swimming pools and two restaurants.

Florida, USA

Known for being a theme park have, Florida enters its dry season so there’s little rainfall and highs of 26C.

This makes it pleasant for a wander, checking out the rides, and heading to the state’s beautiful beaches in the likes of Miami and Florida Keys.

Florida is home to the mega theme park, Walt Disney World which s the same size as San Francisco and even has waterparks too.

Nearby is also Universal Resort Orlando which last year opened it’s new theme park, Epic Universe which has a How to Train Your Dragon themed-world and an immersive Wizarding World.

If you want to visit the theme parks but want to cut down the price, stay out of the parks like Avanti International Resort.

With Thomas Cook, a 10-night stay for two starts from £720pp including return flights from London Gatwick departing on November 22.

The hotel has a swimming pool, beach volleyball set up, and bar a grill along with free shuttle buses to the theme parks – so there’s no need to hire a car.

Or if you’d rather a different holiday vibe, head to Boca Raton which Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot called ‘Florida’s secret paradise‘.