Travel Deals

GETTING a budget hotel in the capital sometimes feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but now one of London’s most expensive areas has a cheap, yet underground, hotel.

Park Lane, sitting on the edge of Hyde Park, is known for being one of London‘s most exclusive areas.

In fact, a hotel in the area can often set you back hundreds per night.

For example, a night at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London in January could set you back £390 or a night at 45 Park Lane would cost around £940.

But now, there is good news for those wanting a budget option as a brand new Zedwell hotel has opened up on the famous road.

And the twist is that the hotel is completely underground.

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The new Zedwell Underground Park Lane has 133 ‘cocoons’, each of which doesn’t have a window.

The rooms are soundproofed and have “ambient lighting, purified air and body-cushioning mattresses”, according to the hotel.

Each ‘cocoon’ also comes with free Wi-Fi and an en-suite, with a rainfall shower.

Just five-minutes from Marble Arch tube station, when guests arrive at the hotel they can also use automated, self check-in desks.

And for those who are staying and working in the city, there is even a co-working space overlooking Hyde Park.

A ‘cocoon’ costs from £67.68 per night, for two people – so £33.84 per person.

The hotel marks Zedwell’s second underground hotel, with its other destination being the first underground hotel in England and is located on Tottenham Court Road.

Halima Aziz, head of hotels at Criterion, commented: “Zedwell is built around one simple idea: delivering great sleep in unbeatable locations at an affordable price point, democratising access to city centres and luxury neighbourhoods like Mayfair.

“Zedwell Underground Park Lane exemplifies our brand values and our ability to unlock complex urban sites to create value in the heart of the city.

“This opening reinforces our commitment to high-quality design, operational excellence and exceptional customer service, while continuing to scale the Zedwell brand in prime destinations.”

Zedwell is known for offering budget accommodation and over the summer opened the world’s biggest capsule hotel in Piccadilly Circus, costing around £30 per night.

Travel writer, Helen Wright, stayed at the hotel and said: “Inside, decked out with a modern concrete and timber design, there are nearly 1,000 individual sleep capsules over five floors.

“It’s a twist on the traditional ‘dorm style’ hostel set up as each guest gets privacy and security of being tucked up in your capsule, with the ability to lock it from the inside.

“On first glance, the dorm rooms, which are minimalist and dimly-lit looked a bit like a car park or a storage locker.

“It’s nothing like you’d expect a hotel room to look, so it takes some getting used to.

“However, inside, I was surprised to find a cute little space, with mood lighting and welcoming interiors.

“Surprisingly, it didn’t feel as claustrophobic as I thought it would – as a 5’5 woman, I was able to sit up and easily stretch my legs.

“Even more surprisingly, I had a great night sleep, with no rowdy drunken people or loud talkers disturbing the peace.”

In other hotel news, Britain’s best hotels for 2026 have been named from seaside pubs to island B&Bs.

Plus, the £89 all-inclusive holiday with hotel, flights, food AND drink included.

GLIDING into the glitzy Grand Atrium and gazing up at three marble-clad floors of bars and boutiques, a thought hit me.

If this is just one small section of the impressive ship Iona, how am I going to experience everything on offer in just one-and-a-half days?

This was my first cruise and, as a total novice, I’d decided to book a short, two-night sailing.

P&O Cruises’ Iona is deemed the perfect ship for first-time British cruisers, partly because — carrying 5,200 guests and 1,800 crew, it is big enough to not feel cramped or overwhelming.

Plus there are plenty of familiar UK favourites on board from roast dinners to Tetley tea.

And with prices starting at £199 per person, including all your food and activities, you can’t go wrong.

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Longer voyages are cracking value, too, with five nights on a European itinerary costing less than £500pp.

You could spend a week on board and not run out of things to do thanks to Iona’s 30 bars and restaurants, ten entertainment venues — including a cinema, theatre and spa — swimming pools and hot tubs along the decks.

I stayed in a Conservatory Suite, where floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking views without having to brave the biting wind on the balcony — the only downside of a UK cruise.

Luckily, the SkyDome has a heated indoor pool and this area of the boat has just had a sleek refit.

It’s a great place to kick back with a beer in hand (a pint of Moretti costs £6.25).

Nowhere is quite as relaxing as the spa, though — home to a therapeutic sauna, sensory steam room and rejuvenating hydrotherapy pool.

If that doesn’t float your boat, why not indulge in some retail therapy at the on-board boutiques, where you’ll find designer watches, bags and sunglasses, among other gems.

A particular hit with my husband was the Barbour shop — I’m fairly certain he came home with a whole new wardrobe.

When we weren’t watching aerial acrobatics in the large theatre, or rolling dice at the casino, we were sampling the excellent food.

‘BUFFET OF DREAMS’

The Horizon Restaurant — an all-you-can eat buffet of dreams — has salads and sandwiches, freshly-cut kebabs and full roast dinners.

Meanwhile, The Quays offers a street food style selection of live cooking stations, where I tucked into delicious breakfasts of fresh scrambled eggs and hash browns.

And Ripples ice cream parlour serves treats with edible cups and spoons — a small but fabulous nod to P&O cutting back on waste.

It would be hard to tire of the dining options included in your fare, but if you do fancy treating yourself, the speciality joints are top notch.

We loved Sindhu, the Indian restaurant where you can get three courses for £22, with a £3 supplement for the lobster thermidor.

My husband and I enjoyed Sindhu’s signature cocktail, the East India punch, a muddle of spiced rum, cognac, falernum (a sweet syrup) and tropical juices.

And if you can’t decide what to eat, the Sindhu Signature Plate boasts smaller portions of three of their most popular dishes: the duck tikka malabari, the beef lali mirch masala and the creamy lobster, drenched in thermidor sauce.

Elsewhere, the Glass House in the Grand Atrium offers a heavenly seven-course tasting menu and wine pairing (priced at around £35 a person), by award-winning wine expert Olly Smith and acclaimed Spanish chef Jose Pizarro.

Our highlight was a black tie dinner and show at the adults-only Limelight Club, with a performance from singer Jonathan Wilkes and a nightclub boogie on board.

If that doesn’t convert you to a cruise lover, I’m not sure what will.

WE all know that reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh – but did you realise his entire fleet of magical-hooved creatures is female?

“We know this because of their horns,” Diego Osorno tells me, pointing towards Vixen, one of Grouse Mountain’s resident herd.

At that moment, she decides to depart her hay-filled lodge and gently plod off through the snow, tilting her antlers towards the shimmering Christmas lights in a well-timed performance.

Males shed their antlers in the winter months, while females cast theirs in summer, the knowledgeable Diego shares. He is one of a few rangers here at Grouse Mountain, a 4,100ft tall peak that towers over the city of Vancouver, on Canada’s western coast in British Columbia.

This magnificent landmark will be celebrating its 100th birthday next year, and for those already planning their 2026 wintry getaway, few places offer more Christmas cheer, aside from Santa’s home in the North Pole.

A small “skating pond” sits just beyond the reindeer shelter, where kids can twirl on ice in front of snow-topped fir trees listening to festive music echo between the trunks.

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Elsewhere on the peak, you can trudge through fresh white powder on a snowshoe experience, weaving through the frosty woodland which, at this time of year, is dripping in twinkling lights.

These lights are almost as magical as the ones glimmering up from the city of Vancouver at night.

Birds-eye views of the city are spectacular from the cliffside restaurant, The Observatory, and you can soak them up while you dive into fondue — a bubbling pot of rich, gooey cheese served alongside thick slices of charcuterie, pickles and hunks of bread for dipping.

Of course, there’s skiing and snowboarding, too. In fact, visitors will have their pick of three mountains for snowsports when staying in Vancouver, which is partly what makes this region one of the best in the world for night skiing.

You can hit the slopes in a mere 25 minutes from the city centre, including the cable car journey. And Vancouver’s breathtaking nature doesn’t end with its mountains. At the foot of the snow-capped cliffs lies a huge harbour, filled with ships, fishing boats and humming seaplanes — and plenty of wildlife, too.

Winter isn’t the season for spotting whales, but you’re still in with a chance of catching something emerging from the waters, especially if you decide to take a stroll around the seawall of Stanley Park.

This is Vancouver’s answer to Central Park in New York, except it’s roughly 20 per cent larger, boasting 1,000 acres of lush green space bang in the centre of a skyscraper city.

A pal had spotted seals here only a few days earlier, but during my morning run, I only spied black squirrels (cool, nonetheless) and a seagull cracking into a crab that it had plucked from the water for breakfast.

Messy but fun

That sight hammered home just how fresh the grub here really is.

With a huge body of water on its doorstep, wild salmon is, unsurprisingly, very popular in Vancouver. It’s also a staple in the diets of the indigenous communities around these parts. Sushi is big, too. In fact, it turns out Vancouver is where the California roll was invented, supposedly by Japanese-Canadian chef Hidekazu Tojo, although there is some debate over this.

One of the best places in the city to sample this is Miku Waterfront, near the cruise port. This restaurant has rightly earned a place in the Michelin guide for its extremely high-quality dishes at prices that won’t break the bank.

I polished off clean plates of oshizushi, a sushi block made from layered rice and slabs of fresh tuna or mackerel, dolloped with a smattering of saffron as well as perfectly-crafted nigiri, which I was instructed not to dip in soy sauce as the seasoning had already been meticulously balanced.

Right they were.

An extremely filling lunchtime Shokai consisting of ten pieces of traditional sushi, rolls and nigiri with appetisers and miso soup, will set you back just under £25, in a swish setting.

Asian influences can be seen throughout a large number of restaurants in Vancouver due to a wave of Cantonese and South Asian communities immigrating to the city over recent years. Anh And Chi at the northern end of Main Street serves immaculately executed Vietnamese classics, including DIY rice paper rolls that you construct at the table. Messy but fun.

During the festive period, however, you can’t go wrong with a slap-up Christmassy meal within a sparkling globe-style dome at H Tasting Lounge.

Order the 24-hour braised beef shank, which is lit on fire tableside, the smoky smell of rosemary and meat engulfing the dome.

Cold plunge pools

If you simply can’t decide what tickles your fancy, book on to a food tour with foodietours.ca around the public markets of Granville Island.

This industrial area has become a hub for arts and food, and more than 50 independent vendors flog their homemade delights to not just tourists and locals, but A-list celebs, too.

Pop star Harry Styles once bought Hobbs Pickles’ entire stock of sweet pickles in one day. I had to resist doing the same after sampling their dill flavour.

Vancouver-born actor Seth Rogen, on the other hand, regularly makes a beeline for Lee’s Donuts, which sells the classic ring-shaped bake in all manner of flavours, from cinnamon to honey-dip.

For more snacking with a festive twist, there are two Christmas markets in the city. The main Vancouver Christmas Market (entry from £3.80), offers a more commercial atmosphere with wooden stalls selling all the classics.

Meanwhile, the Shipyards markets on the North Shore are a little more crafty and free to visit, serving quirkier titbits like pickled spruce tree tips.

They taste like capers, if you’re wondering.

I was also grateful for the city’s emphasis on wellness after gorging one too many poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes).

Spas have become a large part of the culture here and the two-hour thermal circuit at Circle Wellness will ensure every ounce of stress is extracted from your body through specially designed hot pebble floors, Himalayan salt chambers and cold plunge pools.

From my private shipping container, I watched the steam billow from my cedar tub, clashing with the air’s chill.

Some things are just made for winter. And Vancouver is one of them.

WHEN there’s no snow anywhere else, there’s still a bit of powder in Obertauern.

This tiny Alpine town has more snow than anywhere else in Austria, and its season lasts from November until May.

So it’s no wonder when The Beatles were looking for a snow-sure location to film scenes for their 1965 movie Help! they opted for the once-unknown village 56 miles from Salzburg.

Body doubles were hired to perform the band’s action shots on skis — and Paul McCartney’s stand-in still lives here today.

This year marks the 60th year since the filming took place — transforming a previously quiet mountain village into the centre of pop culture for a few unforgettable days.

The global attention sparked by the Fab Four’s visit marked a turning point for Obertauern.

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Beatles fans still make pilgrimages to the village, and scattered throughout the village are three monuments to commemorate the band.

And if, like The Beatles, you aren’t much of a skier, you can still catch a gondola to the peaks to enjoy the restaurants, with deckchairs overlooking the mountains.

But, of course, Obertauern is all about the snow, which reaches a maximum depth of 8½ft.

In the evenings, I’d watch snowfall from the cosy window seat in my room at Kesselspitze Chalet & Hotel, on the edge of town.

It fell so heavily I couldn’t see beyond it — not lights in the windows of nearby buildings, nor the mountains behind. It was everything a winter wonderland should be.

I hadn’t skied for a while, so I booked beginners lessons, and it is true what they say about teachers — the good ones make a massive difference. Mine made it look a doddle.

I may have stuck to safety on the nursery slopes while I practised my turns, but my classmates got the hang of it in no time.

Leg massage

It meant they could graduate to tougher challenges on the blue, red and black routes, including the Gamsleiten 2 — a scary 45- degree ski-run.

Back in town, the Eurobeat was booming in the apres-ski bars.

Still in full gear with skis parked against railings, people downed beers, wine and cocktails while they stomped to the beat.

A pint of beer costs an average of €6 while a glass of good Austrian wine is around €4.30.

If you’re not partying or skiing, there are shops to browse, plus restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

A highlight of the trip for me, however, was the hotel and its facilities.

The 4*+ Kesselspitze is one of three in the town owned by Croatia-based Valamar.

It is everything I expected from an Alpine hotel: Lots of wood, stone and rich colours, with a real fire in the bar, while the decor in my room was luxurious yet homely.

The food, a combination of help-yourself buffet and a la carte, was amazing, and there was so much of it that I always felt well-fuelled before and after hitting the slopes.

I loved the hotel’s Balance Spa. Tired and aching, I recuperated in the sauna, steam room and Finnish sauna (much hotter) and booked in for a leg massage to soothe my throbbing calves.

There’s something spectacular about relaxing in an outdoor Jacuzzi while it is snowing — the heat of the bubbles clashing with the cold, and the mountains right in front of you.

It is the perfect way to soak away any aches and pains, ready for another day on the slopes.

FANTASY lovers can take a step down the hobbit hole this winter, as a new location invites guests inside to escape the icy winter weather.

A Tolkien-inspired holiday spot has opened for business north-west of Cambridge, with pods and lodges available for keen glampers.

Just outside of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, West Stow Pods offers a peaceful stay for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Emulating world-famous Hobbiton, the pods and lodges are equipped to service groups between two and six people.

Pods are fitted out with a kitchenette and appliances, as well as an en-suite, TV and bedroom area, and are slightly smaller than the lodges.

The lodges are bigger, with full kitchens and separate bedrooms, as well as living room space.

SETTING THE MOO-D

The countryside spa hotel with outdoor hot tubs next to Highland cows 

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West Stow Pods is also pet friendly, allowing families to include their furry family members in holiday plans.

The glamping spot has been recognised as one of the best forest getaway spots in the UK.

Located next to King Forest, the options for hikes, bike rides and time in nature are endless.

Guests can also choose to spend the day in the local town, which is jam-packed with restaurants and shops to explore.

West Stow has priced rooms between £170 and £458 for two nights, depending on whether you choose a pod or a lodge.

Future guests can secure a spot by booking on the company’s website.

For holiday makers who are more keen of the seaside than the forest, the pretty seaside town of Saundersfoot has cosy pubs and award winning hotels.

The town sits between Tenby and Amroth in Pembrokeshire.

It’s home to around 3,000 residents and has a Blue Flag sandy beach, a picturesque harbour with cafes and shops, plenty of walking paths – but absolutely no rides.

And according to WalesOnline its “craggy coastline is amongst the most beautiful in the world and can be enjoyed year-round, especially in autumn”.

Someone on Tripadvisor described the village as a “winter wonderland” when the Christmas lights are up.

It’s a popular place for Atlantic grey seals and you can see them on boat trips – and you can see them all year round

Saundersfoot has previously been named one of the ‘best places to live by the sea in the UK 2024’ by The Sunday Times.

The family-run restaurant serves up meals from curries to pastas, surf and turf, steak, and burgers.

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The Challoners, East Sussex

Deputy Editor Gayle Schoales, husband Nick and their Jack Russell Dixie cosied up in an idyllic rural retreat.

THE PAD

It’s hard to imagine a more romantic setting than The Challoners: two timber-clad cabins in a lush walled garden festooned with fairy lights, buried deep in the rolling fields of the East Sussex Weald.

Beautifully decorated and stocked with everything you could think of (from torch to telescope), this adults-only, dog-friendly bolt-hole is brimming with rustic-chic charm.

The shepherd’s hut sleeping quarters – with roll-top bath and luxe bedlinen – is more boutique hotel than glamping spot, while the second hut has a fully equipped kitchen, the comfiest of corner sofas and separate shower room.

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Both huts have underfloor heating to keep you toasty in colder months, plus there’s a firepit in the garden for stargazing.

EXPLORE

You’re in 1066 country – where the Battle of Hastings was fought – so there’s no shortage of history around these parts, and 14th-century Bodiam Castle, three miles away, is well worth a visit.

Climb the battlements and spot medieval graffiti before posing by the moat for the perfect Insta shot.

Adult entry costs £12 (Nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/bodiam-castle).

Eleven miles away, the pretty market town of Tenterden has a tree-lined high street full of independent shops and tea rooms – pick up hand-crafted toffee-cream vodka for £26 in the kitsch Mr Taylor’s Drinks Emporium, and quirky art and beauty bits from local creatives in Ethel Loves Me (Ethelloves.me).

Fancy a ramble?

You’re spoiled for choice, but the stunning Bedgebury National Pinetum And Forest, seven miles away, is hard to beat.

Entry is free (Forestryengland.uk/bedgebury).

REFUEL

Country pub of dreams the Salehurst Halt is a leisurely 25-minute stroll across the fields, with a buzzy atmosphere, live music on weekends and top-notch seasonal grub.

We loved the corn and manchego hash browns, £8, and The Double Buck burger with two venison patties, brie, blackberry hoisin and caramelised onion, £19 (Salehursthalt.co.uk).

Sunday lunch at The Abbey Hotel in the nearby town of Battle is a local institution – and for good reason.

Our thyme-roasted beef with all the trimmings was the stuff of legend, £21, while a Dixie-approved doggy roast is £5 (Abbeyhotelbattle.co.uk).

Afterwards, take a 30-minute drive to Rye’s medieval cobbled lanes to browse the boutiques and customise your dream hot chocolate at Knoops.

The 70% cocoa blend with orange, cinnamon and whipped cream will blow your mind, £6.50 (Knoops.com).

DON’T MISS

Chug your way back in time on the Kent And East Sussex Railway’s lovingly restored steam train, which runs between Tenterden and Bodiam.

Adult tickets cost £29.50 (Kesr.org.uk).

BOOK IT

Stays for two at pet-friendly The Challoners, Robertsbridge, cost from £119 per night (Cottages.com).

The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor

Assistant Editor Claire Frost and her partner Steve found a foodies’ delight on the Isle of Wight.

THE PAD

Husband and wife team Tom and Ashley have created a sea-view haven that might be even better in the off-season, thanks to its cosy lounge where you can curl up with a book and house pooch Ronnie.

The six individually designed bedrooms all feature a wine fridge and a decor of soft greens, dusty pinks and wood panelling, plus super-king Hypnos beds and La-Eva toiletries.

Every evening, sommelier Tom leads a super-interesting tasting where you can learn about some of the 900-plus bottles lining the walls of the wine room.

Later, sip your fave, along with a cheese and meat platter, £12, in front of the fire.

Come morning, breakfast is a four-course (and super-pretty) affair including poached fruit topped with yoghurt and home-made salted coconut granola, and local MasterChef-worthy egg, bacon, tomato and mushroom.

EXPLORE

With the shingle beach just across the road, you can stroll along the coast on a 20-minute amble to the cute village of Bonchurch and pop into tiny Bonchurch Pottery for a unique mug, £14.95.

Or hire an ebike from Route Fifty 7 through The Terrace for £25 a day, and speed your way up and down the isle’s hills, stopping at the awe-inspiring 22-acre Botanic Gardens.

Entry costs £13.50 (Botanic.co.uk).

Later, reward yourself with a Winter Warmer session at Slo-mo, 30 minutes’ drive away at Tapnell Farm.

Sweat it out in the wood-fired Nordic sauna, before a bracing dip in the lake.

Recover (and warm up again!) in the hot tubs and “floating” sauna.

Hour sessions cost £15 (Slomo.me/slomo-tapnell-winter-warmer).

REFUEL

Pop into London House bakery for pillowy chocolate and strawberry muffins, plus to-die-for sausage rolls, both £3.50.

For dinner, make a beeline for Pan-Asian Smoking Lobster and its insanely good glazed yellowfin tuna, £15, char-siu Iberico pork, £14, and moreish peanut noodles, £6 (Smoking-lobster.co.uk).

Or try Stripped for a Med-inspired menu that includes a huge sharing platter, £54, piled high with chicken skewers, lamb kebabs and garlicky home-made Romanian sausages (Stripped-brasserie.co.uk).

The best thing? All are within easy walking distance of your room.

DON’T MISS

Stop by Harvey Browns farm shop en route to the ferry for delicious Briddlesford Farm cheese and Godshill Orchard chutneys (Harveybrowns.co.uk).

BOOK IT

Double rooms at The Terrace cost from £250 B&B, including wine tasting (Theterraceventnor.co.uk).

Ferry crossings with Wightlink from Portsmouth to Fishbourne cost from £81 per car (Wightlink.co.uk).

FUELLED by a glass of Moet from the 24-hour champagne bar, I sleepily made my way to the resort’s palm-lined beach club, nibbling on a golden chocolate-covered strawberry as I plodded.  

So far, so Dubai . . .  except I am actually in Turkey at the Cullinan Belek hotel. 

Which means, after a short four-hour flight from the UK, I was swept into the kind of luxury you would expect from one of the 5H properties on The Palm Jumeirah — only without the seven-hour journey, or the jet lag.  

Plus, it meant I was feeling fresh enough to go from the plane to the party in minutes. 

Cullinan Belek’s Galapagos beach bar was pumping as masked dancers beckoned in revellers with their flaming torches and a live DJ played Balearic-style beats. 

Its troupe put on two original shows a night – one more family-friendly piece in the main auditorium and a more progressive, late-night number for the adults, like tonight’s, which took its inspiration from Moroccan belly dancers.  

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A waiter served me a freshly-shaken, personalised cocktail from his cart, and before long, I was dancing barefoot on the beach.  

Cullinan Belek won the Luxury All-Inclusive Resort gong at the World Travel Awards in 2024, but if I needed further proof of its prestige, I found it back at our Superior Duplex room. 

There’s a pillow menu, top-of-the-range tech to control lights, curtains and air, plus divine Bvlgari toiletries in the two bathrooms.  

But the real treat is the swim-up infinity pool which lapped my second-floor terrace, overlooking the main resort.  

A quick plunge shook off last night’s cocktails and a trip to the hotel’s C’Espace spa beckoned. 

Somehow the hotel’s gym even managed to make sweating feel refined as it is among the best I’ve ever used — yes, it even beats those in Dubai. 

As well as the usual equipment there is a Pilates reformer stand, yoga room, decent set-up for weight-lifters, plus even an indoor and outdoor Hyrox zone for those seeking an on-trend workout.  

And if you’re after something more relaxed, I’m told the Cullinan’s golf course is the best in Belek, which has become known as the heartland for the sport with the hotel offering special packages for enthusiasts.

There are 14 sections to browse for breakfast, ranging from your standard pastries and fry-ups to Indian cuisine, Mexican breakfast burritos and a juice bar.  

Instead, I signed up to play sport-of-the-moment padel — as made popular by the Princess of Wales — and was immediately hooked, as it had all the fun of tennis without as much running.  

That felt like more than enough activity for one day, but it turns out another challenge lay ahead.  

The Mare main restaurant is an epic buffet set-up, larger than any I’ve seen before — yes, even larger than those in Dubai.  

There are 14 sections to browse for breakfast, ranging from your standard pastries and fry-ups to Indian cuisine, Mexican breakfast burritos and a juice bar.  

Variety might be the spice of life, but at that hour of the day, the choice was sometimes overwhelming and the crowds and queues tricky to navigate.  

Away from the throng of the buffet, though, is where the Cullinan Belek really excelled. 

The resort has two Italian restaurants as well Greek, Asian, teppanyaki and a steakhouse plus a number of snack bistros, a patisserie and an in-house chocolatier. So I got to work.  

In the evening, some of these carry an additional charge on top of the all-inclusive package but each time it felt worth it. 

Great value 

I particularly enjoyed the beef in hot sauce from Nori Asian, which, for an extra €25 per person, allows you to dine to the sounds of live music as you sit among the petal design of the Azure pool.  

Meanwhile The Beef Grill puts its succulent steaks at the centre of the action, with the cuts displayed in a huge chiller spanning the length of the restaurant, and an open kitchen grill.  

The real jewel in the hotel’s crown, however, is the huge water park which offers an oasis for families, alongside a football pitch, splash pool and tons of beach games…

The €55-per-person surcharge felt great value when the signature starters of Meat Sushi and Onion Blossom were prepared at our table by an intrepid server with a blow torch.  

The real jewel in the hotel’s crown, however, is the huge water park which offers an oasis for families, alongside a football pitch, splash pool and tons of beach games as well as indoor bowling alley and games consoles. 

The offering for children is impressive — but all the more so because these facilities somehow nestle unobtrusively alongside the chic, laidback aspects, just like at the super hotels in Dubai. 

Which was ideal for me, lazing by the adults-only pool as I awaited my next cocktail from the roller-skating waitress. 

If Cullinan Belek is a Dubai dupe, then honestly, who needs the real thing? 

THE all-inclusive holiday is more popular than ever, three quarters of a century since Brits first went on one.

To mark 75 years of the budget-friendly way to holiday, we’ve looked at the very best deals around at the moment. From beautiful beaches to lavish cruises, here are 75 stonking all-inclusives you can book now – you can even bag one to the Maldives, perfect timing as the bad weather sets in at home.

The first ever overseas package holiday was created by Vladimir Raitz, who founded Horizon Holidays.

It was to Corsica from London in 1950, with 300 holidaymakers paying £32 and ten shillings. This works out to around £971 in today’s money.

Rather than a resort, however, guests would be staying in ex-army surplus tents as rationing was still in place.

It was Gerard Blitz, a Belgian sportsman, who then created the concept of the all-inclusive hotel resort in 1950, with the first Club Med in Spain.

And despite it being 75 years later, all-inclusive holiday packages can still be found for a fraction of the price.

So we’ve found 75 of the best all-inclusive deals on the market, which include your flights, hotel and your food and drink.

Deals include TUI, easyJet Holidays, Thomas Cook, Loveholidays and On The Beach, as well as a number of ski holidays, cruise holidays and even some mystery holidays.

From Turkey bargains for £189pp, to long-haul blow-the-budget trips to The Maldives, here are our top picks.

Under £200

When it comes to the cheapest all-inclusive breaks, you’ll want to head to Turkey.

You could spend seven nights in the Prenses Sealine Beach Hotel in February 2026.

For £189 each it includes all food and drink and your return flights from London Southend. Find the deal here.

Or there is seven nights at the Grand Barhan, also in Antalya in Turkey for £199 each when travelling from London Gatwick in March 2026. Find the deal here.

There is also Belpoint Beach Hotel for £199pp if you fly from London Gatwick in April 2026. Find the deal here.

Another affordable holiday destination for all-inclusive holidays is Tunisia.

TUI has a three-night stay in TUI SUNEO Royal Kenz in Tunisia for £179pp, when flying in January 2026 from London Southend. Find the deal here.

Another three night stay is at Paradis Palace Hotel in Hamamet for £191pp, also in January 2026 from London Southend. Find the deal here.

Four nights at Riviera Hotel with Birmingham flights in February 2026 is just £158 each. Find the deal here.

For under £200 you could also head to Morocco.

Three-night stays in Morocco for under £200 – the TUI SUNEO Kenzi Europa is around £193pp, with flights from London Stansted in January 2026. Find the deal here.

Or for £197pp, the trip includes a three-night break in Marrakech with return flights from London Stansted in February 2026. Find the deal here.

Four nights at Allegro Agadir in January 2026 is just £199 each when flying from London Gatwick. Find the deal here.

If you don’t mind a budget hotel, there are a few all inclusive deals in Spain for under £200 each.

Fly in July to Hotel Mariant Park in Majorca for seven nights, from £186 each. Find the deal here.

Four nights in BLUESEA Copacabana in Costa Brava is £199 each in April. Find the deal here.

When it comes to Portugal, seven nights at Albufeira Sol Hotel & Spa is £186 each from East Midlands in April 2026. Find the deal here.

If you don’t mind a shorter trip, spend fur nights at Mutha Oura Praia Hotel in February from Bristol Airport for £179 each. Find the deal here.

Under £300

Tunisia remains a bargain for cheap all-inclusive deals under £300 too.

Loveholidays has a steal with seven nights at the Vincci Helya Beach in Skanes for £209 each when travelling from London Southend in January 2026. Find the deal here.

Or four nights at Cesar Thalasso with easyJet in January 2026 from Manchester is £254pp. Find the deal here.

TUI has some bargains for Tunisia with a three-night stay in January from London Southend for £218 each. Find the deal here.

Stay a bit longer with four night stays from £236pp. Find the deal here.

Greece has some cheap all-inclusive breaks too, especially in Crete.

A seven night stay in Bali Beach & Sofia Village with return Luton flights can be found for £250 each a night in April 2026 Find the deal here.

Or there is the adult-only City Green Hotel for £275pp, with return flights from London Gatwick in April 2026. Find the deal here.

First Choice has seven nights in Crete’s Mediterraneo Hotel in April from London Gatwick for £212 each. Find the deal here.

Or head over to Rhodes for £213 each, with seven nights at Tsampika Hotel along with London Luton flights in April as well. Find the deal here.

Want to try Corfu? Seven nights at Mareblue beach with Gatwick flights in April is just £250 each. Find the deal here.

Otherwise there are some affordable Egypt holidays under £300 each too.

Seven nights in Sharm Cliff Resort is around £212pp when flying from London Luton in January 2026. Find the deal here.

You can even find some Spanish deals if you know where to look.

First Choice has six nights in the TUI SUNEO Tamaimo Tropical from Birmingham in January from £298 each. Find the deal here.

Portugal is another great cheap destination under £300pp, especially with TUI.

There is three nights at Alvor Baia with London Stansted flights in march for £274 each. Find the deal here.

Or fly from Manchester to AP Cabanas Beach and Nature for three nights in January for £281 each. Find the deal here.

Prefer Albufeira? For £295 each, there are three nights at AP ADRIANA BEACH RESORT. Find the deal here.

Or why not try a trip to Montenegro? For £289 each, you can spend four nights at Carine Hotel Park in April 2026, with flights from London Gatwick. Find the deal here.

Under £500

Most of your all-inclusive Spanish holidays will be in the under £500 range.

For example, there is the HSM Canarios Park in Majorca which is £315pp for seven nights and return flights from London Gatwick in May 2026. Find the deal here.

If you prefer Costa Blanca, there is the Magic Cristal Park, with seven nights and London Luton flights in March 2026 for £320 each. Find the deal here.

Or for Costa del Azahar, spend seven nights in Magic Sports for £365 each in March 2026 when flying from London Stansted in March 2026. Find the deal here.

For a Jet2 holiday, there are seven nights at Sandos Griego in the Costa Del Sol in march from £479 each. Find the deal here.

Cyprus is one of the best for sunshine all year round, with some great deals next year too,

Seven nights at Tsokkos Gardens Apartment with London Gatwick flights in May 2026 is just £499pp. Find the deal here.

EasyJet Holidays has some Egypt bargains too for under £500 each.

There is four nights at the Aster Aqua Park in Hurghada for £340 each, with London Gatwick flights in January 2026. Find the deal here.

Or travel in March 2026 from Manchester to Caves Beach Resort, with four nights from £472pp. Find the deal here.

Thomas Cook‘s Egypt deals can be found for £305 each, with seven nights at Royal Lagoons Resort when flying from London Luton in January 2026. Find the deal here.

Or also in January is seven nights at Pyramisa Beach Resort is £442pp with London Luton flights. Find the deal here.

You can even get some all-inclusive cruises for a bargain.

For example. you can spend three nights on a Marella Explorer 2 ship for £486 each, with drinks, food and stops in Tenerife and Malaga, as long as you fly next month. Find the deal here.

Ambassador’s mini cruises are all inclusive from £399 each, with three days onboard. Find the deal here.

Wowcher’s Mystery All Inclusive seven night holidays are £349 each. Find the deal here.

Under £800

Around the £800pp mark is where you can start to find some longer-haul holidays.

For example, seven nights in Cuba at the Allegro Palma Real with London Gatwick flights can be found for £779 each when flying in October 2026. Find the deal here.

In the same month, seven nights at Club Kawama is just £769pp with Gatwick flights too. Find the deal here.

Or in September 2026, seven nights at Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai with London Stansted flights is £779 each as well. Find the deal here.

TUI has seven nights in Cape Verde’s Boa Vista, at the Hotel Riu Touareg with London Gatwick flights in January 2026 for £778pp. Find the deal here.

You can even find some bargains for Mexico, with seven nights in January 2026 at All Ritmo Cancun Resort for £759 each with London Gatwick flights. Find the deal here.

Wowcher has some cheap trips on offer as well, with a seven night stay at a five star hotel in the Dominican Republic with return flights from £789 each. Find the deal here.

But if you are looking to stay in a bit closer, you can find some five star luxury for this price.

Seven nights at Dreams Corfu Resort & Spa in April 2026 with London Gatwick flights is £769 each. Find the deal here.

Another week-long trip, staying at Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort in Rhodes with London Gatwick flights in April 2026 is £759pp. Find the deal here.

British Airways has lots of Egypt trips, with seven nights at Parrotel Beach Resort in Sharm el Sheikh for £657 each with London flights in January. Find the deal here.

They also have Morocco with the Pickalbatros Palais des Roses for £634 each in January. Find the deal here.

Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel is one of Egypt‘s fanciest hotels, and Loveholidays has seven night stays in January for £769 each. Find the deal here.

And the luxury Rixos Premium Gocek in Turkey is £769pp too, with flights in March. Find the deal here.

Under £1,000

Finding an all-inclusive under £1,000 to long-haul destinations can be tricky – but it’s doable.

HolidayPirates has a seven night stay at Riu Bambu in the Dominican Republic if you fly from Manchester in February 2026 for £980 each. Find the deal here.

Or fly from London Gatwick in June 2026 to spend seven nights at Coral Costa Caribe Resort & Spa for £969pp. Find the deal here.

Fly in April 2026 from London Gatwick to Whala! Boca Chica for seven nights for £970 each. Find the deal here.

Or there is a whopping 14-night stay in Royal Palms Beach Hotel in Sri Lanka for £974 each, when flying from London Gatwick in May 2026. Find the deal here.

Fancy Tanzania? Seven nights at AHG Waridi Beach Resort in May 2026 from London Gatwick is just £989pp. Find the deal here.

Or seven nights at Paradise Beach Resort on the same island is £959pp with London Gatwick flights in May 2026. Find the deal here.

Otherwise Thomas Cook has a number of cheap Mexico deals under £1,000.

There’s seven nights at The Reef Coco beach Resort from London Gatwick in January 2026 for £998pp. Find the deal here.

Or fly from London Gatwick to Hotel Maya Caribe Faranda also in January for £955 each. Find the deal here.

If you’re a snow lover there are some great ski holidays too, with seven night all-inclusives under £1,00 each.

One of Crystal Ski’s most affordable deals is seven nights at Belambra Club Panorama in France, when flying from London Gatwick next month, for £846pp. Find the deal here.

Head to Bansko in Bulgaria for £881 each, with flights from Birmingham next month. Find the deal here.

Or Sunweb has eight day ski holidays in Austria for £844 each when travelling in March. Find the deal here.

Over £1,000

If you are happy to have a big blow out holiday, then there are some fantastic deals to splash out on too.

For example, Tropical Sky have seven nights in Zanzibar from £1,499 each, including flights. Find the deal here.

Their Platinum Collection holidays, which are five star hotels, can be found for £2,799 each. Find the deal here.

Talking of African islands, British Airways has some fantastic trips to Mauritius too.

Seven nights with return flights start from London Heathrow to the Veranda Palmar Beach hotel for £1,508, when travelling in September 2026. Find the deal here.

Or there is the five star Club Med La Plantation D’Albion for £2,004 each, when travelling the same month. Find the deal here.

And one of the biggest bucket list destinations is The Maldives.

Virgin Atlantic has seven night trips from £1,841 each, which includes flights from London Heathrow and stays at the OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi in September 2026. Find the deal here.

Want to stay longer? Travel in June 2026 at the same resort for an 11-night trip for £2,549pp. Find the deal here.

Fourteen night stays start from £3,091pp when flying from London Stansted in September 2026 to Cinnamon Dhonveli. Find the deal here.

If you have the time, how about a month-long, all-inclusive holiday?

Jet2holidays has some bargain long stay trips with everything included.

You could spend 28 days at Grand Park Lara in Turkey in March, with return flights included from £1,470 each. Find the deal here.

Or there is a month-long stay in Majorca’s Universal Hotel Romantica for £1,017pp in February. Find the deal here.

Tenerife’s Grand Castillo Tagora is £2,247 each for 28-day stays. Find the deal here.

And HD Lobos Natura Fuerteventura is from £2,923. Find the deal here.

Morocco is a bargain too, with 28 nights at Hotel Club Sungo by Pickalbatros in February for £1,890 each. Find the deal here.

THERE’S a special kind of contentment that washes over you as you sink into a cushy lounge chair at Celebrity Xcel’s Sunset bar. 

A very dry martini in hand, I exhale and drink in the endless blue of the ocean, glittering as the sun slips slowly down beneath the horizon.

The warm Caribbean breeze envelops me as the sky turns vivid pink, orange and red — I’m as relaxed as I have ever been. 

There’s a chic beach club vibe to this al-fresco bar right at the back of the ship, and after just a few days onboard, it’s my favourite spot for a sundowner. 

Mind you, it’s got plenty of competition. 

Around every corner of this sparkling new £764million, 15-deck beauty — the latest in Celebrity’s Edge series — there is something to delight or amaze. 

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And sometimes they come in the most surprising of places. 

I loved the new Country & Western show in The Club — brilliant vocalists and musicians bringing some barnstorming classics to life.

However, hiding in a dark corner of the hip venue, I spy a little photo booth.  

We sit down for our selfie and smile but just as the photos are delivered, a secret door slides open. 

Following the corridor of sparkling lights, we discover a fabulous 1920s-inspired speakeasy.

Flapper girls and gangsters welcome you into the low-lit, smoky joint where the bartenders mix up killer cocktails and live jazz fills the air. 

You’ll get just an hour to enjoy the illicit fun before you’re asked to depart — before the police raid the joint! 

It’s just one of the seven new spaces you’ll only find on Celebrity Xcel and the premium cruise line knew just who to turn to when designing the new ship — their loyal customers.

More than 650,000 votes were cast by regular cruisers to decide on everything from the entertainment (that Country & Western show got the thumbs-up) to the food and cocktails. 

There are two new speciality restaurants onboard. Bora sits alongside the Rooftop Garden on deck 15 and features upscale Mediterranean seafood.  

By day, there’s a decadent brunch in the beautifully decorated al-fresco space featuring shakshuka, steak and eggs, fried chicken with waffles and more. 

Don’t miss the Bloody Mary Bar where you can personalise your cocktail with over- the-top garnishes, premium spirits and spicy mixes. 

As night falls, the space transforms with live music and some stand-out dishes including plump carabinero prawns, razor clams and lamb tagine. Brunch costs £27pp and dinner £49pp. 

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call.

Mosaic, the second new speciality restaurant, sits in the transformed Eden area at the back of the ship.

Now dubbed the Bazaar, this spectacular space aims to blur the line between ship and shore — highlighting the destinations Xcel cruises to. 

With an inaugural winter season in the Caribbean, this means interactive cooking classes, craft workshops, entertainment and live music direct from the tropical islands. 

The entrance to the new area — complete with a mind-bending LED tunnel — is a treat for shopaholics, with jewellery, clothes and food from local artists and producers.

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call. 

There’s also local flavours to enjoy at casual dining venue Spice — included in the price.

But for a real treat, Mosaic offers even more upscale dining alongside triple-height glass windows looking out over the ocean. 

At £70pp, it’s one for a special occasion but you can expect the best — from a delicious lobster casserole to filet mignon steak and Celebrity cruise fan favourite, spiced lamb loin. 

Towers of seafood 

What did surprise me, though, was the standard of food throughout the included restaurants onboard.

Towers of seafood, superb French cheeses and spectacular roasts were on offer in the Oceanview Cafe buffet restaurant. 

The main dining is not one big restaurant but four beautifully decorated separate spaces, each with their own theme, from French fine dining to Italian classics. 

Even the slices of pizza and burgers on the top deck were a step above your normal poolside snacks. 

The Spa has also had some upgrades, including a first-ever outdoor ‘Vitamin D’ deck for sunbathing spa fun, a new hydrotherapy pool and a ‘Bubbles Bar’, where you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine while having your nails done. 

Celebrity’s Edge-class ships have become known for their quirky poolside animal sculptures but Xcel takes it to another level. 

Entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop.

Presiding over the new pool deck is a sparkling 14ft-tall silver sculpture of a monkey and its baby — and this latest Edge ship has upped the ante poolside, too.  

The pool concierge proffers everything from sunscreen and cold towels to board games.

When not in port, this beach club turns into ‘The Poolest Day Ever’, with live music, DJ sets, pop-up shows and after dark, the Shine The Night pool party.

And the entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop. 

I loved The Attic at The Club — a mezzanine level where morning, noon and night you can challenge your partner and pals to everything from pool and golf to retro arcade games. 

For me, this felt like the ultimate adult cruise liner. Fabulous food, thoughtfully- designed sophisticated spaces, energetic entertainment and just the right amount of laid-back fun. 

Just get me back to that Sunset bar . . .  

PLODDING down the steep cobbled ramp, I was already starting to believe that I was stepping into a fairytale.

The boat, bobbing on the water, was the start of my journey to another world.

And, as I drew closer to my destination — a small, mist-shrouded island that was the inspiration for Neverland in JM Barrie’s Peter Pan stories — the storybook setting felt even more real.

Eilean Shona is a rugged tidal island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.

“Hidden gem” is an apt description of the place, with visitors having to drive down a long and winding road on the mainland before they even reach the boat taxi that will ferry them to the island.

Boats aren’t on a regular schedule either — the island, and its manor house, Eilean Shona House, is privately owned by Sir Richard Branson’s sister Vanessa, who transformed the destination into a luxury eco-friendly retreat in the 1990s.

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I really did feel like Wendy when I spotted Neverland for the first time, hidden beneath the clouds.

Just like JM Barrie’s mythical land, the island is covered in thick green woodland.

But this is far from your typical island retreat. Don’t expect speedy wifi, shops and roads, because Eilean Shona is completely car-free, has no shops and only nine people live here.

Instead, you can expect whimsical walks, white sand beaches and a cosy Scottish atmosphere.

The best way to get your bearings is with a refreshing walk to the summit of the island, 265 metres above sea level, which boasts spectacular views over Loch Moidart and the small isles of Rum and Eigg, as well as the Isle of Skye.

You can reward your hiking efforts with a slurp of vodka, because while whisky is the spirit more typically associated with Scotland, this island is where the premium spirits brand Sapling began.

Sat on a bench near the water’s edge in 2018, the brand’s founders, Ed Faulkner and Ivo Devereux, came up with the idea for a climate-positive spirit.

Sapling vodka and gin was formed — spirits that didn’t mess with the environment. In fact the firm gives back to it, by planting a tree each time a bottle is sold.

It was the perfect tipple to accompany me as I sat back and took in the calm of the starlit sky overhead, after retreating back to the manor house where I was staying.

Roaring fireplaces

There are a number of smaller cabins and cottages for those who are travelling solo or in a smaller group, but the manor house offers a more grand experience.

It’s a bit like a miniature version of The Traitors castle, with roaring fireplaces, ornate bathtubs, high ceilings and a grand staircase.

The 19th-century property was originally owned by Captain Swinburne, a Royal Navy seafarer, and it started out as a hunting lodge.

Swinburne went on to develop a great love for the pine trees that he saw on his travels and ended up transforming the landscape of Eilean Shona into one of the most diverse pine collections in Europe.

However these spectacular trees are only part of what makes the island’s surrounding so breathtaking.

My mornings consisted of refreshing plunges off the manor’s pontoon into chilly water, followed by dashes into the sauna afterwards.

You can follow it up with a hike or kayaking, or head to the other end of the island to see a gorgeous beach, which is like nowhere else in the UK, where soft, sugar-like sand meets serenely calm waters.

Eilean Shona House is the island’s main accommodation, sleeping up to 18 people, with a dining room that can host up to 20.

There is a library as well, with a full-sized billiards table, dartboard and a large collection of board games, while in the drawing room sits a grand piano, a cosy seated alcove and views of the loch.

The house can be booked either self-catering or fully catered, with a minimum stay of three nights.

Other options include the Shepherd’s Cottage, which sleeps two people, and the Old Schoolhouse, which sleeps four.

On Eilean Shona I could exchange the real world for Captain Hook’s imaginary version — and for a short time, I didn’t need to worry about growing up.

WE all know Wowcher is good for offers, but did you know you could go on holiday for just £89 and it is all-inclusive?

Holidays really can add up – by the time you book flights, airport transfers, and accommodation, you may have already spent hundreds.

Then add in the costs when you are there, like eating and seeing paid-for attractions.

Often, holidays aren’t cheap.

But this is what makes all-inclusive so appealing, as it takes away that stress.

And Wowcher now has deals as cheap as £89 for an all-inclusive break away.

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For example, you could head to a four-star all-inclusive resort in Tunisia.

The package includes return flights, two nights at a four-star hotel and all your meals and drinks.

The hotel is the Occidental Sousse Marhaba, which has recently been refurbished according to Wowcher.

At the hotel, guests will find two outdoor pools, a wellness centre, direct beach access, kids’ pools, on-site bars, and a sauna and hammam.

Rooms at the hotel include en-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and either have a garden or sea view.

When it comes to food and drink, you get your daily meals, snacks and drinks included.

One recent guest said: “Lovely hotel, good choice of food, staff very pleasant.

“Evening entertainment was good. We paid extra for a sea view and it was well worth it.

“Five min walk through the grounds to the beach. Has a lovely pool.

“You can book trips out by speaking to the lovely Lee who explains the trips in detail. We did the Sahara Explorer, it was amazing.

“Would return to this hotel. Sousse is a beautiful place.”

Nearby you can explore the medina of Sousse, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are a number of souks as well, such as Sousse Medina Souk.

One recent visitor said: “Needs at least a couple of hours to soak up the atmosphere and wander.

“I love wandering around a souk. This one is easy to navigate and not overlarge.

“Also very pretty in parts as this is a very ancient medina area, where people have been trading and living since ancient times.”

History lovers should head to the Ribat of Sousse, a small fort that was built in the eighth century and has a tower boasting panoramic views.

Or head to the Sousse Archaeological Museum, where you can explore a collection of mosaics and statues, as well as sit in a pretty courtyard.

There is one date left in January, from January 18 to 20.

But there are several dates still available in February, including February 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 23 to 25 and 25 to 27.

Or for £99, you could head off on February 24 for two nights.

Prices then rise from March onwards.

Alternatively, you could head to Majorca in Spain, staying at the Bluesea Mediodia for £99 for two nights.

The hotel includes meals, snacks and unlimited drinks and your flights will be from either London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol or Edinburgh.

At the hotel, there is a swimming pool, restaurants and beach access.

One recent guest said: “Considering the price and the services offered, I was very satisfied!

“The hotel is in an excellent location, very close to the beach. The food is varied and can satisfy both those with simple tastes and those who are more demanding.

“The rooms have air conditioning, which is a great plus during hot days.”

The hotel is just a 16-minute drive from Palma, so is a great spot for exploring the city, but also soaking up sunshine on the coast.

Dates available for the £99 offer include January 19 to 21, and the 26 to 28.

Or if you travelled in February, you could go on the 4 to 6, 23 to 25 or 25 to 27.

Prices then rise from March onwards.

For more getaway inspiration, there’s an all-inclusive hotel that’s just been named best in Europe with ten swimming pools, free childcare and Jet2 flights.

Plus, 10 winter sun holidays for all budgets – with 7 nights from £193pp.

SNAP up next year’s holiday for less.

Do you spend the long, cold winter nights dreaming about your next holiday? Say yes to summer – and yes to big savings – by bagging up to £500 off a TUI booking with its latest deal.

There are options to buy now, pay later with low or no deposit – and grab free kids’ places. So where do you fancy going?

Greek gifts

You can always depend on the Greek islands. Corfu is a lush picture of cypress trees, olive groves and sun-bleached towns.

Make sure to fit in a trip to Paradise Beach, so isolated it can only be reached by boat.

Alternatively, Rhodes has a breathtaking mix of dazzling beaches and ancient ruins.

Take the ferry to the tiny island of Symi, which has a beautiful harbour and a striking 15th-century monastery on the waterfront.

Spain’s Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – never fail to please. 

Cala Galdana – a cosy, colourful resort set in a lovely cove in southern Menorca – has lots to keep the family entertained.

And of course Ibiza’s non-stop party scene, bohemian vibes and gorgeous sand are rightly legendary.

Choose a cruise

Or save up to £300 off per booking* on a more sedate river cruise. TUI River Cruises runs tours on the Nile in Egypt plus the Rhine, the Danube and the Moselle in Europe with a brand new ship to be launched on Portugal’s beautiful River Douro in Summer 2027.

Long haul or short?

The new year is the perfect time to think about treating yourself to a holiday.

Tempted by some sunshine? Florida enjoys average temperatures of 25C – so hit the beach, tour Miami and visit Orlando’s theme parks.

Or soak up the sun in Mexico, explore Mayan ruins, laze on powder-sand beaches and stay in an incredible seafront hotel.

The Canaries are always a hit, winter or summer, with Tenerife and Gran Canaria as ever-reliable choices.

Agaete – in the north of Gran Canaria – has some great beaches and natural pools, plus a quaint old town with a walled botanical garden.

How to shop the deals