Europe & Middle East

Short flight, maximum holiday time. We’ve handpicked the best all-inclusive stays in Europe and the Middle East, plus the stand-out experiences when you get there.

Enjoy a feast on a film set in Corfu

Sipping on wine under twinkling lights strung across the square, you’ll wonder if you’ve stepped back in time. Danilia is a replica of a Corfiot village from the 1930s, but the aged buildings look like the real deal. After a guided tour, tantalising smells drift from the kitchen into the balmy evening air and you take a seat for dinner. This is a must-book during a stay at Grecotel LUXME Daphnila Bay.

Sip cocktails at a rooftop bar in Cyprus

Pick a table surrounded by flickering lanterns and pull up a wicker chair by the glass-sided balcony. Clink your glasses together and gaze over Pachyammos beach and the Med beyond, taking a sip of the fruity concoction the bartender has just mixed for you. The adults-only St. Andrew’s Bar at Constantinou Bros Athena Hotel is a great place for sunset cocktails.

BEST FOR HISTORY GEEKS

Explore a lost underwater city in Turkey

The deep blue waters of Kekova Bay change to turquoise as you spot a jumble of rocks near the shore. On closer inspection, you notice the indents of ancient steps and the large shapes of Lycian tombs. This is the sunken city of Simena, an archaeological site that’s partially submerged beneath the sea and just one of the lost cities you can explore during a stay at Club Med Palmiye.

Peruse Picasso’s work in Malaga

Wander through the hushed galleries of Malaga’s Pablo Picasso Museum and be swept up by the genius and brutality of this divisive 20th-century master. During a stay at Ikos Andalucia, the Ikos Culture Pass unlocks a world of discovery. You can also spend time in the city’s Fashion Museum or stroll around the gleaming vehicles on display at Vintage Automobiles.

“My Travel Counsellor booked everything for us – transfers, convenient flights, wonderful accommodation, airport parking, and insurance. The attention to detail was great – from leaving a message in the hotel room for when we arrived to checking in on us during our holiday.”

Caroline

TRAVEL COUNSELLORS CUSTOMER

BEST FOR FAMILY FUN

Cook like a top-notch chef

Last night you dined at Matsi, a restaurant fusing Rhodian culture with Italian flavours. Just one of the restaurants that has been reshaped by renowned haute cuisine chef Apostolos Trastelis. Now it's your turn. Under the expert guidance of Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort’s highly skilled chefs, you start a cooking class that aims to teach you all about the produce that make Rhodes’ cuisine so special.

BEST FOR FOODIES

Experience fine dining in Dubai

Dubai is known for its incredible restaurants, and The White Orchid is a stand-out star in the culinary scene. Within JA The Resort, this elegant dining option specialises in Southeast Asian cuisine, so book a table and pull up a chair. Smiling faces place beautifully presented plates of crab cakes, sweet and sour prawns, and lobster curry in front of you, so tuck in! The flavours are unreal.

BEST FOR WATER BABIES

Whizz down waterslides in Dubai

Should you twist and turn down the parallel tubes of the high-speed Whizzard slide with a thrilling 360-degree loop or settle for the bumps of a body slide? Jungle Bay Waterpark is exclusive to guests staying in Dubai’s Mina Seyahi Resorts. Styled like a Greek island village, with a blue-and-white colour scheme, this water park has wave pools and lazy rivers, as well as daring big slides. You can also dial up the luxury element by pre-booking a private cabana.

BEST FOR THRILL SEEKERS

Brave the world’s fastest rollercoaster

Strap yourself in, snap on your goggles and you’re all set for what’s coming next: hitting 149mph in just 4.9 seconds on the world’s fastest rollercoaster. This is Formula Rossa, the coolest ride at the remarkable Ferrari World on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. With a free ticket as part of your all-inclusive stay at Rixos Saadiyat, you can also try Flying Aces, the world’s highest rollercoaster loop.