What is the best way to search and compare hotel prices?

Use a hotel price comparison tool like Hotellook, which searches hundreds of booking sites at once. It shows the same room across Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and direct hotel sites side by side, so you book the cheapest price for the exact same room.

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, if you arrive more than three hours late. The amount depends on distance: 220 pounds under 1,500 km, 350 pounds from 1,500 to 3,500 km which covers most Mediterranean routes, and 260 or 520 pounds beyond 3,500 km depending on how late you land. Claims stay open six years in England and Wales, five in Scotland. AirHelp and Compensair both handle claims on a no-win, no-fee basis.

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. EKTA offers online medical and travel cover.

Is Compare the Heat independent?

Yes. Compare the Heat earns affiliate commission when readers book through its outbound links, at no extra cost to the reader. This never changes the price you pay or the order in which options are shown.

What is the cheapest way to park at Heathrow?

Book airport parking in advance — gate prices are 40-60% higher. Park & Ride services like Bee Parking Heathrow start from around £8/day booked online, compared to £25+ at the gate.

Do I really need travel insurance for a holiday?

Yes. Package holidays protect your booking if the operator fails but don't cover medical treatment abroad, personal cancellation, or lost baggage. Buy standalone travel insurance the same day you book flights.

When is the cheapest time to book a holiday?

For summer holidays, book flights January-February. For winter sun, August-September. Midweek flights (Tuesday-Wednesday) are cheapest. Shoulder season (May-June, September-October) offers the best weather-price balance.

How do pre-booked airport transfers compare to taxis?

Pre-booked transfers give a fixed price, a driver with a name board at arrivals, and no surge pricing — unlike hailing a taxi or Uber at the airport. Kiwitaxi and Welcome Pickups offer this.

Which airport parking is best for Heathrow?

Official Heathrow parking is closest and most secure but costs more. Independent operators like Bee Parking offer similar services from lower rates. Compare both before booking — always book online, never at the gate.

A calm turquoise tropical beach at golden hour with gentle waves and quiet sand.

WATCH FIRST · BOOK SMARTER

Holidays like you remember them. Prices for right now.

watch the place first — then compare the whole trip, honestly

9Categories

45+Brands compared

100%Independent

0Hidden markup

Let us build you a starting point

three taps and a slide — watch the planning estimate change ↓

Who’s going

Which month

Total budget£1,200

£300£2,500

a place to start →

Crete, June

Use the budget as a planning guide: flights, seven nights and eSIM. Open the category searches to confirm current prices.

THE WHOLE TRIP · GUIDE£1,200Within your starting budget

Compare flights →Compare stays →Compare eSIMs →

Watch first

Seven destination reels. Swipe, then compare.

Swipe across the seven postcards. Tap play for a five-second look, then open the matching flight or stay search.

Turkish Riviera

Antalya, Türkiye

A five-second look before you compare the trip.

The Algarve

Portugal

Cliffs, coves and the reliable one.

Crete

Greece

The right island for the right month.

Costa del Sol

Spain

Cheap, hot and easy to reach.

Puglia

Italy

Italy without the peak-season price.

Cyprus

One of the longest summers in the Med.

Madeira

Portugal

Warm, green and never a furnace.

⌕

Türkiye

Ten reasons we do it this way

the useful stuff, without the holiday fog

Watch the place before the price

A cheap fare is no use if the destination does not feel like your kind of holiday. Start with the place, then compare the trip.

Compare the whole trip

Flights are only one line. Put the stay, transfers, insurance and eSIM beside it so the total makes sense.

Keep estimates honest

Planning figures are labelled as planning figures. Live prices open at the provider so you can confirm the exact dates.

Make the shortlist feel human

“Best for an easy week” is more useful than another anonymous list of destinations.

Show the trade-off

The cheapest destination is not always the easiest. We make the difference visible.

Start with your month

Heat, water temperature and shoulder-season value change the answer more than a generic “best destination” ranking.

Respect the family budget

A whole-trip guide helps families see the shape of the spend before they click into five separate tabs.

Use real booking rails

When you are ready, each category goes to a real search or provider flow rather than a made-up checkout.

Keep the good surprises

Lucky dips and postcard moments are for inspiration; the final booking still gets a proper price check.

Leave with a decision

The goal is not endless browsing. It is one destination that feels right and a clear next click.

Postcards back from our travellers

real reviews, stuck in with pride

★★★★★

“Watched the Crete clip on the Tuesday, booked the whole thing for £74 less than the package site by Thursday.”

— Sarah M, Manchester · Crete

★★★★★

“The eSIM tip alone saved us £28. Four of us to the Algarve, everything on one running total.”

— Dev & family, Leeds · Algarve

★★★★☆

“Lucky-dipped Madeira on a whim. It landed, we went, it was the best trip we’ve done.”

— Josh & Elle, Bristol · Madeira

Compare by category

Everything a hot holiday needs

Nine things to book. Each one opens straight onto its comparison.

FlightsCompare → HotelsCompare → eSIMCompare → TransfersCompare → Car hireCompare → ToursCompare → InsuranceCompare → ParkingCompare → WeatherCheck →

The Heat Edit

Holiday ideas worth opening in a new tab

Every pick starts with the place, then gives you the useful bit: what it feels like, when to go, what it costs and where to compare it.

See all warm-weather picks

Turquoise water and rocky coastline in Crete

Best for beaches + food

Crete · Greece

Big island energy, small-cove mornings

Warm water, old towns and enough coastline to choose your own pace. A strong first pick for couples and families who want more than a resort strip.

27°C in JulyLive route search7-night stay search

Compare Crete See where to stay →

Antalya coastline and turquoise Mediterranean sea

Best-value all inclusive

Antalya · Türkiye

Pool days, old-town nights

Easy airport transfers, huge resort choice and a price that works hard.

30°C in JulyLive flight search

Open the Antalya guide →

Best easy escape

Algarve · Portugal

Cliffs, seafood and a short flight

Good-looking beaches with the practical comfort of an easy UK connection.

25°C in JulyLive flight search

Compare Algarve

Longest summer

Cyprus

Late-season heat that stays reliable

For September and October when you still want the sea warm and the evenings long.

29°C in SeptemberLive flight search

Find September sun →

Best way to compare hotel prices?

Use a hotel price comparison tool like Hotellook. It searches Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and hundreds of sites at once — same room, best price. You can save £50-300 per week by checking at least two sites before booking. Compare hotels now →

When should I book flights for the cheapest fare?

Book international flights 3-6 months ahead. European short-haul: 6-12 weeks out. Fares almost never get cheaper closer to departure. Use a metasearch engine like Aviasales to compare hundreds of airlines at once. Search flights →

Do I need an eSIM, and which is best?

If your UK plan charges for roaming (£2-6/day), an eSIM saves £10-30 per trip. Install on wifi before you fly, activates on landing. Airalo has the widest coverage from £4/week. Saily and Yesim are strong for multi-country trips. Compare eSIMs →

Live prices

This Week’s Cheapest Flights

Real prices · Prices checked just now

Prices updating — check back soon.

Live fares from our provider, in pounds, from London, refreshed through the day. Tap Book to compare the exact route on Aviasales.

How it works

Three steps from daydream to departure

Watch the destination

Wherever you're tempted to go, see it first. Video tours and real footage so the place matches the picture.

Compare the prices

Flights, hotels, eSIM, transfers and everything between, side by side. The same thing across the brands worth booking with.

Book with confidence

Independent picks, no hidden markup. Book straight from the best price and spend the rest of the holiday in the sun.

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.

Last reviewed: August 2026. Independently researched and updated monthly.

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Holidays like you remember them. Prices for right now.

Let us build you a starting point

Crete, June

Seven destination reels. Swipe, then compare.

Turkish Riviera