Destination
Turkish Riviera
Türkiye
Cost index 46.8 · cheapestLong dependable heat and the best value in Europe. Go all-inclusive: the taxed drinks are bundled, everything else is half price.
Everything for a Hot Holiday
Compared in one place. Flights, eSIMs, transfers, car hire and more, so you book in minutes and spend the rest in the sun.
The hot list
From reel to reservation
Watch a five-second look at this year's hottest picks, then book the whole trip in one place.
Destination
Destination
The Algarve
Portugal
Cost index 85.0Western Europe's most reliable beach heat, under three hours from most UK airports.
Destination
Crete
Greece
Cost index 83.0Same warm sea in June or September, without the August furnace or the August prices.
Destination
Costa del Sol
Spain
Cost index 90.7Dependable mainland heat, short cheap flights, and the white villages behind the coast.
Destination
Puglia
Italy
Cost index 98.1 · cheapest drinksWhitewashed towns and proper food without the Amalfi mark-up. Italy's best-value corner.
Destination
Cyprus
Cyprus
Cost index 95.1The longest summer in the Med: a swimmable sea into late October, and they drive on the left.
Destination
Madeira
Portugal
Cost index 85.0Warm all year, never a furnace. The pick for walkers and anyone who wilts at 38 degrees.
Our booking partners
AviasalesBooking.comDiscoverCars
AiraloAirHelpTiqets
Eight things to sort before you fly
Each one has a handful of brands genuinely worth using. We compare them on what they are best for, how long your booking stays credited, and where they work.
Flights
Search hundreds of airlines and agencies at once.
eSIM data
Land already online, without roaming charges.
Transfers
A fixed price and a driver waiting at arrivals.
Car hire
Local independents and global brokers.
Tours
Skip-the-line tickets and city passes.
Flight compensation
Claim for a delay or cancellation, no win no fee.
Insurance
Medical, cancellation and baggage cover.
Luggage storage
Drop your bags on the last day.
Book it in this order
Sequence matters more than people think. Flights and insurance move on price and eligibility, the rest you can leave later without paying for it.
1
Flights
Fares climb as seats sell. Nothing else is worth booking until these are fixed.
3 to 6 months out2
Somewhere to stay
Prices move with demand, and the good value goes first in peak season.
Right after flights3
Insurance
Cover starts the day you buy it, so cancellation is protected from the start.
Same day as flights4
Car hire
Booked ahead it beats the airport desk rate, and most bookings stay free to cancel.
1 to 3 months out5
Tours
Popular attractions sell out in peak season. Book the ones you would be sad to miss.
2 to 4 weeks outThe edit
Curated collections
Picks gathered around a feeling, a season, a budget.
Start with the whole market, not one airline
Booking direct with a single airline shows you a single price. Metasearch compares hundreds of airlines and agencies in one query, then hands you off to book. Virtual interlining goes further, stitching together carriers that do not sell joint tickets, which is where the bigger savings on long routes usually hide.
See the flight brands
Then find somewhere to stay
The same room is rarely the same price twice. Big inventory sites cover almost everything, price-comparison sites undercut them on the exact same room, and villas or apartments usually beat hotels once there are more than three of you. Check at least two before booking.
| Brand | Best for | Booking window | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.comHotels and apartments | The widest choice, and free cancellation on most rooms | One session | Visit |
| Vio.comHotel price comparison | Undercutting the big sites on the same room | 30 days | Visit |
| VrboVillas and whole homes | Families and groups, where a hotel gets expensive | 7 days | Visit |
| AgodaHotels | Often cheapest on long-haul and Asia | 1 day | Visit |
| HostelworldHostels and social stays | Solo trips and tight budgets | 30 days | Visit |
Stay connected
Land with data already working
An eSIM installs before you leave and activates on arrival. Coverage and price vary a lot by region, so match the provider to where you are actually going.
| Brand | Best for | Booking window | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AiraloeSIM marketplace | The widest country coverage | 30 days | Visit |
| SailyeSIM by Nord | Simple flat regional plans | 30 days | Visit |
| YesimeSIM and data | Multi-country trips | 90 days | Visit |
| GigSkyGlobal eSIM | Cruises and remote regions | 30 days | Visit |
| DrimsimUniversal SIM and eSIM | Long trips across many borders | 90 days | Visit |
Sort the ground before you land
The airport is the worst place to negotiate a price in 35 degree heat. A transfer booked in advance is a fixed fare and a name board at arrivals. If you want the freedom to explore, a hire car booked before you fly is almost always cheaper than the desk rate at the terminal.
| Brand | Best for | Booking window | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| KiwitaxiPrivate airport transfers | Fixed-price door to door | 30 days | Visit |
| Welcome PickupsTransfers and local help | English-speaking local drivers | 45 days | Visit |
| GetTransferTransfer marketplace | Drivers bidding for your ride | 30 days | Visit |
| intui.travelAirport transfers | Wide global airport coverage | 35 days | Visit |
| Brand | Best for | Booking window | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiscoverCarsCar-hire comparison | Comparing local and global suppliers in one search | 365 days | Visit |
| LocalrentLocal car rental | Trusted local suppliers, low deposits | 30 days | Visit |
| GetRentacarRental aggregator | The longest booking window here | 90 days | Visit |
| QEEQCar-hire comparison | Price-drop tracking after you book | 30 days | Visit |
| AutoEuropeCar hire, UK and Europe | An established European operator | 30 days | Visit |
| EconomyBookingsGlobal car broker | Worldwide choice in one place | 30 days | Visit |
| BikesBookingScooter and bike hire | Two wheels at the destination | 30 days | Visit |
Book the queue away
Attraction tickets, guided walks and city passes are usually cheaper and faster booked online than at the gate, especially in peak season. The good tours also sell out first, so the ones you would be sad to miss are worth locking in before you fly.
| Brand | Best for | Booking window | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiqetsAttraction tickets | Instant museum and attraction entry | 30 days | Visit |
| Go CityCity attraction passes | Several attractions on one pass | 90 days | Visit |
| WeGoTripAudio and self-guided tours | Exploring at your own pace | 30 days | Visit |
| KlookActivities and transport | Asia-Pacific experiences | 7 to 30 days | Visit |
| KKdayTours and activities | Local experiences across Asia | 30 days | Visit |
| TicketNetworkEvent tickets | Concerts and live events | 45 days | Visit |
£520
is what a long delay can be worth.
Under UK and EU rules, a long delay, a cancellation at short notice or a denied boarding can entitle you to compensation, and you can usually still claim on flights from the past several years. Airlines rarely volunteer this. Both services below work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so a rejected claim costs you nothing.
Three more worth ten minutes
Small bookings that prevent the expensive problems.
Travel insurance
A package holiday protects your booking if the operator fails. It does not cover a hospital bill, a cancellation for personal reasons, or lost baggage. EKTA writes online medical and travel cover, with a 30 day booking window.
Get coverLuggage storage
Late flight home, midday check-out. Radical Storage has drop-off points across thousands of cities, with a 30 day booking window.
Find storageSailing and cruises
SEARADAR compares yacht charters and checks the boat and operator before you commit, with a 30 day booking window.
Compare boatsOur method
How we compare, and how we are paid
Watch it
A five-second reel of each pick, so you see the place before you commit.
Compare it
Real heat, sea and cost data next to every brand worth booking with.
Book it
Straight through to the operator. Same price, and the order that saves the most.
We list travel brands from the Travelpayouts partnership network and compare them on what each is genuinely best for, how long your booking stays credited to us (the booking window), and where each one works. We earn a commission when you book through our outbound links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the price you pay, and it does not change the order brands appear in. Terms can change, so confirm the price and conditions on the provider's own site before booking.
What is the best eSIM for a holiday abroad?
Airalo offers the widest country coverage and suits most travellers. Saily and Yesim are strong for multi-country trips, GigSky covers cruises and remote regions, and Drimsim suits long trips across many borders. Match the plan to your destination before you fly.
How do I compare flights for a hot-weather holiday?
Start with Aviasales, a metasearch engine that compares fares across hundreds of airlines and agencies in one search. Then check Kiwi.com, which uses virtual interlining to combine airlines that do not normally sell tickets together, often cheaper on longer routes.
Can I claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight?
Yes. Under UK and EU rules you may be owed up to £520 for long delays and cancellations, and claims can usually be made for flights in the past several years. AirHelp and Compensair both handle claims on a no-win, no-fee basis, so a rejected claim costs you nothing.
Do I need travel insurance for a package holiday?
A package holiday protects your booking if the operator fails, but it does not cover medical treatment, cancellation for personal reasons, or lost baggage. Separate travel insurance covers those, and it is usually cheapest bought as soon as you book.
Is Compare the Heat independent?
Yes. We earn affiliate commission when readers book through our outbound links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes your price or the order options are shown in.