Should you stay or should you go? It’s the eternal question. Should you take a leap of faith that your budget – and your boss – can handle a spontaneous holiday, you’ll find someone to take care of Mr. Whiskers, and the weather will be unseasonably warm for this time of year?
Or should you buckle down and try not to imagine what it would feel like to be sitting on the beach right now, listening to the lapping waves, enjoying the warmth of the sun on your body and sipping a margarita?
We say, sometimes you’ve just got to stop thinking and start seizing the holiday.
To help warm you up to the idea of grabbing the holiday bull by the horns, we’ve put together some tips and tricks for finding that perfect flight at a nice price. We’ve also included 5 destinations that are easy to get to but still feel like you’re experiencing someplace new.
Tip 1: Keep your options open
Rule number one for matching the best destination and the best price for you? Stay flexible and be open-minded. This means you could end up travelling somewhere you’ve never been before, but in our opinion, that’s actually a really good thing.
Start by using our Explore tool. It frees you from picking specific dates or destinations before you know them, instead recommending destinations based on e.g. your budget or what type of trip you have in mind. Choose ‘Romantic’ to compare great destinations for couples or try ‘Foodie’ to find somewhere with amazing cuisine. See it as an opportunity for adventure – that city you’ve never considered visiting before or that beach town you’ve never heard of might end up being your new favourite place.
Tip 2: Set up a Price Alert
If you do already know where you want to go but the prices just aren’t doing it for you, set up a Price Alert and we’ll keep an eye on the prices as they change. Whenever a price drops, you’ll receive a notification of it so you can strike when the price is hot. Just look for the bell icon on your flight search results page.
Tip 3: Accept the possibility of a stopover
If you’re looking to fly long-haul and you’re struggling to find an affordable direct flight, consider a stopover. Not only does this give more routes and airlines to choose from, it’ll probably save you some cash too. If you don’t fancy spending too long at the airport, think about incorporating a multi-day stopover into your trip and taking the opportunity to explore a new destination.
Tip 4: Keep an eye on our deals
Check our Deals page for the latest and best return and one-way flight deals found on our site. They include flights to European destinations and beyond, so whatever type of trip you fancy, there’s a good chance you’ll find a cheap flight to a destination that offers just that.
Where to seize your holiday
Ok, now you know how to score that flight at a price that won’t break the bank – but where should it take you? There are a whole host of destinations that are more suitable as a last-minute holiday or a three-day weekend getaway. These are places where you don’t need to pack much more than clothes and toiletries, where the locals are accustomed enough to foreigners that you can have a conversation with them in English, and where you won’t spend 24 hours on travel. But these places are still far enough away that you’ll feel like you’ve really gone somewhere totally new. Here are just a few suggestions.
Cork, Republic of Ireland
It’s a pity that when people think of travelling to Ireland, most of the time they automatically defer to Dublin. But there are so many other cities in Ireland that are at least as interesting, and may have even more of an authentic Irish atmosphere. Cork is just such a place.
Foodie? Cork is widely-regarded as the culinary capital of Ireland, thanks to its fertile surrounding soil offering fresh and flavourful produce, and a large number of chefs who aren’t afraid to try new things. History buff? Nicknamed the ‘Rebel City’, Cork played an important role in the Irish War of Independence. You can visit the prison on Spike Island, or Cork City Gaol, where Constance Markievicz, revolutionary nationalist and suffragette, was imprisoned.
Jersey, British Isles
This little island is located just off the coast of France and offers a mild climate, English as a first language, and a flight time of less than an hour from the UK. As an island known for its many hours of sunshine, it’s perfect for a summertime visit. Lose yourself on a long stroll through its abundant forests or along its beaches and cliffs. Take advantage of its island status with kayak trips, coasteering or surfing. And absolutely indulge in local specialities like shellfish, flavourful potatoes and dairy products straight from the famous Jersey cow.
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
We all know Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura, but how about Lanzarote? A direct flight there from the UK takes a little over four hours, but when you get off that plane, you’ll feel as if you stepped into another world. That’s primarily because the lava landscape is most prominent on this island, making black and ruddy orange the dominant colours found throughout. Less frequent rainfall compared to the other islands also gives Lanzarote an almost desert-like atmosphere. It’s truly an island where you can feel as if you’ve gotten away from the familiar, while still enjoying the best of island living like gorgeous beaches, fantastic restaurants and a lively social scene.
Gothenburg, Sweden
Sweden is about as cool as you can get, and Gothenburg, the country’s second-largest city, adds a second layer of coolness with its pristine archipelago location. The city has an alternative vibe and is an easy city to explore on foot. Discover the art hidden all throughout its streets, stumble upon cute independent cafes in the old street of Haga, learn something new at the unique science museum Universeum and surround yourself with green in the peaceful Slottsskogen park.
If you want to get out of the city, just take one of the many ferries to explore the archipelago of islands in the North Sea. The largest of them, Hönö, is a swimmer’s paradise. It has lovely places to swim like Hästen and Lappesand on the west side, Jungfruviken on the east end, and Hjälvik on Öckerö, the island just to the north.
The northernmost island in the archipelago, Rörö, is a beautiful paradise of untouched nature. It offers an abundance of wild birds, seals, mink, foxes, hares and even horses grazing out in open pastures. Buy a packed lunch for your backpack before you set off on a long hike through meadows covered in honeysuckle and heather.
Alternatively, you can also drive down the rocky mainland coast to the south. Kullavik, just 20 kilometres away, is an especially magical place to watch the sun set over the other-worldly rock formations that make up the beach there.
Berlin, Germany
You can touch down in this hip city in just about two hours from London, making it an attractive destination for a last-minute trip. And Berlin is also not an expensive city to visit, compared to some of the other destinations on this list.
Of course you’ll want to hit the popular landmarks like Brandenburg Gate, the East Side Gallery (a preserved part of the Berlin Wall that was transformed into an art space) and the Jewish Holocaust Memorial.
Mix some green spaces into your Berlin visit with strolls through some of its expansive parks. Tiergarten is Berlin’s equivalent of New York City’s Central Park. It’s a lovely space in which to catch a concert, take a tranquil ride in a rowboat, visit its famous zoo, or just people watch. If you want to immerse yourself in delicious food wares as you stroll, go to Preußenpark on a summer Sunday. Here you’ll witness rows and rows of Thai women crushing nuts, slicing chilies and grating papayas under colourful parasols, preparing delicious Thai food to sell. Come hungry.
If no trip is complete without some heavy-duty shopping, you’ll definitely have Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) at the top of your must-visit list. KaDeWE is none less than all of mainland Europe’s largest department store. At 60,000 sq metres, its stores include international designers, niche labels, health and beauty brands, interior design and much, much more. You can read more about Berlin here.
