5 affordable and reliably sunny breaks from London
As this cool spring lingers well beyond its welcome in London, it’s time for a warm and affordable break. There are two ways to plan a holiday getaway from London to a place with near-guaranteed heat and sun: the independent route, which is the EuroCheapo way, or a package holiday.
To help independent travelers think about how to launch themselves to the sun from London, we’ve reviewed the least expensive return airfares from the capital of the UK, along with recommendations for independent, non-chain hotels in five dependably sunny places: Gran Canaria, Sharm el-Sheikh, Larnaca, Antalya, and Madeira.
Prices are a lot cheaper than you probably think for three-star hotels. Most of these sleeps offer plenty of amenities and cost no more than €60 per night.
Gran Canaria, Spain
One of Spain’s very popular Canary Islands – and the second most populous of the archipelago’s seven main islands – Gran Canaria can typically be relied upon as a sunny destination all year long.
Flights
easyJet, Norwegian, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways, Iberia Express, and Ryanair fly to Gran Canaria’s Las Palmas Airport from various London hubs. The cheapest return fare we found in early June runs £119.98 ($186) on easyJet via Gatwick. (check flights)
Flying time: 4 hours 15 minutes.
Hotel
Tusity Bed&Chic (General Vives 76, Las Palmas) offers double rooms for around €60 per night. Rooms are modern and cheerful and beautifully maintained. (see all hotel options)
Tip
Head inland. Gran Canaria might be a beach destination, but its mountains are full of great, well-signposted hiking trails. Check out Rambling Roger’s site and apps for more information.
Sunny skies and blue waters await at Larnaca, one of the most popular spots in Cyprus. Photo: Peter Fristedt
Larnaca, Cyprus
Larnaca is one of Cyprus’ two major gateways. Long popular among British tourists, it has become a major hub for tourists from across Europe.
Flights
Aegean and British Airways, easyJet, Monarch, Norwegian, Thomas Cook, and Thomson Airways fly from London airports into Larnaca Airport. The cheapest return flight we found for travel in early June: £151.98 ($235) on Thomson in and out of Gatwick, with a rather inconvenient return in the middle of the night. (check flights)
Flying time: 4 hours 30 minutes.
Hotel
Kalimera B&B, located in the village of Agia Anna, is a well-loved guesthouse with rates beginning around €60 per night. A rental car is highly recommended for guests. (see all hotel options)
Tip
Take a break from the beaches in Nicosia, the world’s last remaining divided capital.
Take a vacation along the sunny Turkish coast in Antalya. Photo: Stephen Downes
Antalya, Turkey
Antalya, located along the Mediterranean coastline of southern Turkey, is a massive tourism center as well as a major city in its own right – Turkey’s eighth largest.
Flights
easyJet, Monarch, Pegasus, Thomas Cook, and Thomson Airways fly from various London airports to Antalya Airport. The least expensive return flight we found in early June was on Thomas Cook from Gatwick, at £138.98 ($215). Like the cheapest round-trip to Larnaca, however, this flight features a middle-of-the-night return journey. (check flights)
Flying time: 4 hours 20 minutes.
Hotel
The 16-room Hotel Twenty (Tuzcular Mh., Imaret Sk) is located in the center of Kaleiçi, the old town of Antalya. Double rooms are priced very affordably at around €30 per night. (see all hotels options)
Tip
Walk through Hadrian’s Gate, one of Kaleiçi’s star attractions.
The stunning island of Madeira makes the perfect getaway destination. Photo: lietz.photography
Madeira, Portugal
Madeira, a Portuguese island located north of the Canary Islands, is loved for its verdant gardens and hilly terrain.
Flights
British Airways, easyJet, Monarch, Norwegian, and Thomson Airways fly from London airports into Madeira-Funchal. The least expensive flight we found in early June was on Monarch in and out of Gatwick, for £151.98 ($235). (check flights)
Flying time: 3 hours 45 minutes.
Hotel
Pensao Astoria (Rua João Gago 10, Funchal) offers double rooms from €38 close to the city center. (see all hotels in Funchal)
Tip
Try a glass of sercial, the driest of the Madeira wines. Tastings can be organized at Blandy’s Wine Lodge, at Avenida Arriaga 28 in Funchal.
The waters are bluer than blue in Sharm el Sheikh. Photo: Mr. Theklan
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, attracts tourists from across Europe and beyond all year long.
Flights
easyJet, Monarch, Thomas Cook, and Thomson fly from various London airports. The cheapest return airfare we found for travel in early June runs for £280.98 ($435) on Monarch into and out of Gatwick. (check flights)
Flying time: 5 hours 30 minutes.
Hotel
Sunshine Divers Club is a popular diving hotel located in Sharks Bay, an independent hotel in a field of chain outfits. A double room for a single week goes for around €275 (about €40 per night) in June, including breakfast. Check out more hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Tip
Escape the hubbub of the resort town on a desert stargazing tour.
About the author
