Get ahead of the tinsel.
It may feel like there is still time, but the festive season has a habit of sneaking up on us. If you’re considering a Christmas or New Year getaway and want to save some money for presents, now’s the time to start planning. We’ve sifted through travel data to uncover trending escapes, great value spots, plus the best time to book and travel. Hit play on your holiday planning and unwrap a stress-free holiday getaway.
HIGHLIGHT SUMMARY
Long-haul holidays are the new festive fix.
Hint: The idea of a romantic holiday in a cosy cottage in the snowy Cotswolds may be losing its shine. This year, British travellers are leaving the countryside calm behind for the buzz of big-city lights, trading eggnog for Cosmopolitans and drizzle for sunshine, fun, and passport stamps. End-of-year travel plans are taking off, with long-haul city breaks replacing yule logs and mistletoe.
Big city lights
Far and wide
New & old faves
Fairy lights swapped for skyline views.
From New York to Tokyo, this festive season is all about long-haul escapes. Eight of the ten most-searched Christmas destinations are beyond Europe, with Tenerife and Geneva the only European entries. Dubai tops the list, ahead of Bangkok and New York. Tenerife (#6) shows the biggest price drop year-on-year (-17%), while Manila (#4) and Tokyo (#9) record the highest price increases with 25% and 10% vs last year respectively. With an average return flight price of £1,320, Manila also tops the list for price.
Best time to book.
Looking for a great flight deal to make the festive season even sweeter? We’ve got you covered.
Grab that deal
According to KAYAK’s 2024 data, Brits found the best-value flights for Christmas season trips around late November/ four weeks out for domestic trips. International flights were lowest on average when booked in late December.
Best time to book domestic: CW 47 and 48
Best time to book internationally: CW 53
When travelling the world…
It does not have to cost you the earth. KAYAK data reveals the best value flights and hotels, as well as a few places where you can get a real bargain this Christmas compared to last year.
Our best value destinations: Polar magic meets Moroccan spice.
UK travellers are in luck, their best value festive flights span across Europe and Africa, with Barcelona coming in at an average flight price of £117. Reykjavik is the northernmost destination to reach for under £200 on average, while Marrakech is the southernmost in the Top 10 for Brits to explore, for an average of £219.
#1 Barcelona, Spain
Think twinkling lights, tapas nights and strolls along La Rambla. Barcelona is our number one best-value destination for Christmas, with average return flight prices of £117.
#2 Paris, France
No other city (if any!) spells romance better than Paris, especially when immersed in the Christmas spirit. Flights to the City of Light are currently at £132 on average.
#3 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Just a short flight from the UK, Amsterdam’s average flight price during the Christmas season is currently £136, followed by 100% fun with ice skating, traditional festive foods and winter wonderland flair.
Christmas holiday deals: Sunny escapes lead the way.
It’s beginning to look a lot like the Canary Islands are calling your name, with festive fares down more than 20% vs 2024.
Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura
Around 20°C during the day, hours of sunshine, and 24% cheaper flights than last year. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a Christmas escape, doesn’t it?
Arrecife, Lanzarote
Swap mince pies for papas arrugadas, fresh seafood and some mojo canario this year, and take a flight to Lanzarote over Christmas, for 23% less than last year.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Why not visit the Christmas sand nativity scene at Las Canteras beach and try your hand at a sand sculpture? With flight prices down by 22% compared to 2024, you’ll have enough budget left for a beach shovel.
If the prospect of enjoying some sunshine over the Christmas break is prompting you to reach for your passport, take a look at our list of winter sun destinations that are well worth considering.
Hot this Christmas (and literally hot).
Our list of trending destinations couldn’t be more diverse. From serene beaches in the Philippines to desert sunsets in Marrakech or world-class surf in Sydney, these spots are capturing the attention of British travellers.
#1
Manila, the Philippines
With UK flight searches up 42% compared to last year, you might just bump into a few fellow Brits on New Year’s Eve, counting down the final seconds of 2025 at Rizal Park, or celebrating on the beaches of Boracay if Manila isn’t your final stop.
#2
Islamabad, Pakistan
Islamabad climbed the charts, seeing a 21% increase in flight searches from the UK. Located at the foot of the Margalla Hills, the city offers visitors a blend of nature, culture, and laid-back charm.
#3
Marrakech, Morocco
From desert sunsets to lantern-lit souks, the Red City is becoming an increasingly popular festive destination, with flight searches up 20% from last year.
Outsmart delays – and save your Christmas cheer.
With airports busier than Santa’s workshop, festive travel can really test your patience. During last year’s Christmas & New Year’s travel season, 28% of flights from the UK were delayed. That’s where KAYAK’s data-driven insights can help travellers plan smarter, dodge delays, and spend more time celebrating (and less time waiting at the gate).
Just so you know: Our analysis defines a flight as ‘delayed’ if it departs 15 minutes or more later than it was supposed to.
Pro tips from KAYAK.
Festive travel can become chaotic in an instant, but knowing when to fly can make all the difference. Read on for a few data-backed tips to help you avoid the chaos and find the best-value flights this Christmas and New Year.
Avoid the crowds and delays
Just a hint: Christmas Day offered the best chance of an on-time take-off last year, for obvious reasons.
Save the date to save on flights
Flying out after the festive rush on 2 January 2026 could save you real cash vs 20 December 2025, the most expensive day to depart.
Time your return flight
3 January 2026 is expected to be this year’s busiest return day of the season based on our flight search data.
The early bird does catch the flight.
Departures between 5 and 7 a.m. had the best on-time record last Christmas, with only 11% flights delayed on average. Was it worth the early wake-up call? Definitely.
By lunchtime, you might need to top up your festive cheer, as flights between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. are likely to be the most delayed, with one in three running nearly 50 minutes late.
Where delays take off — and where they don’t.
- Map view
- Table view
Methodology
Insights in this report are based on flight searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and its associated brands in the period between 15/06/2025 and 10/09/2025 for flights with departure between 20/12/2025 and 2/01/2026 and return between 25/12/2025 and 10/01/2026, from any UK airport. They were compared to searches made in the period between 15/06/2024 and 10/09/2024, for flights with departure between 21/12/2024 and 3/01/2025 and return between 25/12/2024 and 11/01/2025. All flight prices are average prices for economy, return tickets. Prices may vary, percentages for changes in searches and prices are approximate.
Business class data is based on an analysis of return business class flight searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands for similar search and travel periods.
Five-star hotel data is based on an analysis of searches for five-star hotels made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands for similar search and travel periods.
To identify the best time to book flights, average return economy flight prices were analysed in the period between 24/06/2024 and 01/01/2025 for flights with departure between 21/12/2024 and 3/01/2025 and return between 25/12/2024 and 11/01/2025.
To identify best days to travel, the average daily prices and searches for flights with departure between 20/12/2025 and 2/01/2026 and return between 25/12/2025 and 10/01/2026 are calculated. Prices may vary. Percentages are approximate.
KAYAK considered the 17 most searched departure airports in the United Kingdom based on flight search data from KAYAK.co.uk between 15/06/2025 and 10/09/2025
For flight delays analysis Aviation Edge data was used. This is a comprehensive aviation database providing real-time information on flights, airports, and airlines. https://aviation-edge.com/ (Data was collected on 10 October 2025). The analysis focuses on peak winter holiday dates, covering 21/12/2024 and 3/01/2025.
For the 17 selected airports, data from Aviation Edge is used to calculate the percentage of flights delayed (departure delays) and cancelled for each date, hour and airport. Only flights designated for passenger travel are considered.
A flight is categorised as delayed if the delay at the origin (departure) and the delay at arrival was greater than 15 minutes. In Aviation Edge, flight delay is calculated based on the “wheels-off” approach. This means the delay is measured from the moment the aircraft takes off rather than when it departs from the gate.
