Where to go long-haul, and when
Long-haul holidays from the UK cover everywhere past Europe and the near Middle East: the Caribbean, Florida, Dubai, Thailand, the Maldives, South Africa and beyond. The rule of thumb is a flight of about six hours or more.
The biggest saving on any of them isn’t the destination you pick, it’s when you go. The gap between peak and quiet season on the same beach is often wider than the gap between two different countries. Travel in the shoulder months and a trip that looks out of reach in August becomes affordable.
This page helps you decide: where to go by region, when each one is at its best and cheapest, and what it honestly costs once you add up flights, hotels and the bits in between. The deals below update as we find them. Before you book, our guide to surviving a long-haul flight is worth a read.
Latest long-haul holiday deals
People overestimate long-haul. They picture Christmas-in-the-Caribbean prices and assume it is always that dear. In the quieter months the same trips drop sharply, because demand sets the fare, not distance.
Three things move the price most. School holidays are the big one, and a week either side of the summer or Christmas break can change the cost by hundreds of pounds per person. A connecting flight is the second, and often cuts the fare close to half compared with flying direct. The third is how you book: a package bundles flights and hotel and comes with ATOL protection, which matters more on a trip this size than on a weekend in Europe. It pays to know the best time to book a holiday, as long-haul fares follow their own rhythm.
Here is how the main regions compare on flight time and the best months to travel.
| Region | Example trip | Return flight time | Best months | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US & Florida | New York, Orlando | About 8 to 9 hours | Spring and autumn | Florida summer heat and storms |
| Caribbean & Mexico | Cancun, Barbados | About 9 to 10 hours | December to April | Hurricane season, June to November |
| South America | Costa Rica, Peru | About 12 to 13 hours | Varies by country | Long flights, usually a connection |
| Africa | Cape Town, safari | About 11 to 12 hours | Safari May to Sept, Cape Town Nov to Mar | Safari lodges are not cheap |
| Indian Ocean | Maldives, Mauritius | About 10 to 12 hours | Maldives Nov to Apr, Mauritius May to Dec | Pricey once you are there |
| Middle East | Dubai | About 7 hours | November to March | Punishing summer heat |
| Far East | Thailand, Bali, Japan | About 12 hours | Thailand Nov to Mar, Bali Apr to Oct | Monsoon timing and jet lag |
| Australia | Sydney, Melbourne | About 22 hours, one stop | Dec to Feb south, Apr to Sept north | The distance and the cost |
We’ve grouped the long-haul world into seven regions. Each has a best time to go and a different kind of value, so the right pick depends on what you want and when you can travel.
United States. New York is the long-haul city break that needs the least time off, at around eight hours, and Florida pairs theme parks with beaches for families. Go in spring or autumn, as Florida’s high summer is hot, humid and prone to afternoon storms. See our guides to Miami on a budget and the best time to visit New York.
Caribbean and Mexico. This is the strongest all-inclusive beach value for UK families, with Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Barbados all in reach. The dry season runs December to April; the trade-off is hurricane season from June to November and a price spike over Christmas and February half-term.
South America. Costa Rica for nature, Peru for Machu Picchu, Brazil for its coast and cities. It is a touring region rather than a flop-on-a-beach one, so set that expectation. Flights are long and almost always involve a connection, and a little Spanish or Portuguese goes a long way.
Africa. South Africa is the headline long-haul trip, pairing Cape Town with a Kruger safari at around eleven to twelve hours. Kenya and Tanzania are the classic safari add-ons, best in the dry season from May to September, while Cape Town shines November to March. For winter sun on a budget, the Gambia is about six hours and the cheapest way to reach the continent.
Indian Ocean. The Maldives and Mauritius are the honeymoon postcards, with Sri Lanka the lower-cost alternative that gives you more to do off the beach. The Maldives is driest November to April, Mauritius May to December. Both island resorts are expensive once you are there, so budget for food and drink.
Middle East. Dubai is the shortest long-haul hit at about seven hours, reliably warm and dry from November to March. The summer heat is genuinely punishing and alcohol is pricey, so it suits sun and shopping more than a culture trip. Check the best time to visit Dubai before you book.
Far East. Thailand is the region’s value anchor at around twelve hours, with Bali, Vietnam and Japan close behind on appeal. Go between November and March, outside the monsoon. For timing, see the best time to visit Thailand and the current Thailand holiday deals.
Australia. The longest haul of all at around 22 hours including a stop, so it earns the effort only if you can give it two weeks or more. December to February is the Australian summer in the south, while the tropical north is best from April to September.
| Type of trip | Best-value region | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| All-inclusive beach | Caribbean & Mexico | Bundled family value, driest December to April |
| Luxury beach | Indian Ocean | Maldives and Mauritius, with Sri Lanka for less |
| City break | US & Japan | New York is the shortest hop, Tokyo the best value for money |
| Touring and nature | South America & Africa | Long flights and a connection, but a big payoff |
| Sun and shopping | Middle East | Dubai, warm November to March, the shortest haul |
| Adventure | Far East & Australia | Thailand the value anchor, Australia the big one if you have two weeks |
Latest travel guides
Long-haul means a flight of roughly six hours or more, which from the UK covers everywhere beyond Europe, North Africa and the near Middle East. Popular long-haul trips include the Caribbean, Florida, Dubai, Thailand and the Maldives.
Thailand and the wider Far East give you the most holiday for your money once you arrive, while Dubai is the cheapest to reach at around seven hours. The biggest saving on any of them comes from travelling in shoulder season rather than peak.
Book three to six months ahead for the best package value, and sidestep the school holidays where you can. Long-haul flights usually go on sale around 11 to 12 months before departure.
Florida and Mexico are the strongest family picks, with theme parks and all-inclusive beach resorts respectively. Both are best outside the high-summer heat and the hurricane season.
For winter sun, the Caribbean and the Maldives are driest from December to April, and Dubai stays warm and dry from November to March. Check the season carefully, as monsoon and hurricane timing varies a lot by region.
A connecting flight is often much cheaper than flying direct, sometimes close to half the price. The trade-off is a longer total journey, so weigh the saving against the extra hours.
If you’d rather build the trip yourself, our cheap hotel deals cover stays across the UK and further afield. Handy if you’ve booked a long-haul flight separately and just need somewhere to stay.
Take a look at the latest cheap flight deals from the UK. We track fares across the airlines and flag the ones worth booking, long-haul and short.
Planning the detail? Our guides cover when to visit Thailand, Dubai and New York, plus holiday deals across every region.
Every deal on Flight Tribe is reviewed and verified by our editorial team. We check prices directly with operators before publishing and update pages regularly. We may earn a commission on bookings, which does not affect our editorial decisions or the deals we feature.
