There’s nothing better than a change of scenery. Just a few days away from your usual routine can leave you feeling re-energised, refocused and (almost) recovered. It’s a great way of tricking your brain into thinking that you’ve had a proper break – at least enough to tide you over until your next escape.
This May, we’re blessed with two bank holidays – with only one falling within school holidays. Planning a long weekend somehow feels easier and less high-maintenance than a week-long break; time off feels more fluid and booking at the last minute feels less stressful.
For those looking for some escapism, it makes the unrealistic feel possible – if only fleetingly. You might not be able to afford to live in a castle, but you can be treated like royalty for a few days in someone else's.
© Getty ImagesFriday savings
When it comes to flights, experts have touted for decades that Fridays are an expensive day to travel. Research from Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks shows that things have changed, and that all those business travellers who once pushed up prices ahead of the weekend are now flying home earlier in the week. The result? Friday is now the cheapest day to fly.
Prioritise
Don’t go to Rome or Paris for a long weekend with a million things to tick off your list – you’re likely to leave feeling as though the time flew by in an anxiety-fuelled rush. Instead, pick one or two sites and dedicate a whole day to them. You can then explore the surrounding area in any extra time without feeling pressured or stressed – and it’ll give you more insight into the city than rushing from place to place.
© Getty ImagesHotel hop
Feel like treating yourself to a fancy hotel but can’t justify the price for a long weekend? Split your next city stay across two hotels: splurge on one and budget for the other. Not only are you likely to save money, you’ll also see two different parts of town.
Timing is everything
The report has not only shown a shift in flying habits, but also offered insights into the best time to commit to that break. Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights, and the most affordable booking window for domestic economy flights is 31 to 45 days before departure. Meanwhile, international travellers can save £93 on average by booking economy flights 15 to 30 days ahead compared with six months out. The moral of the story? Don’t book too early – or leave it too late.
Book New York now
While carefully planning the exact moment to book your trip can pay dividends in most cases, when it comes to major events, the earlier you can book, the better. Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 – and the celebration is set to be bigger than ever as this year marks the 250th anniversary of the original signing of the Declaration of Independence. Hotels are already booking up and flight prices are on the rise, so it’s worth thinking about your US trip sooner rather than later.
© Getty ImagesJoin the celebration
In New York City, nautical enthusiasts will be able to see the Parade of Sails, featuring more than 30 tall ships from all around the world sailing up the Hudson River. End the day by watching Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display.
If you want a prime seat for the fireworks but don’t want to contend with the crowds, The Fleur Room rooftop bar on the 35th floor of Moxy Chelsea has unbeatable views across the Hudson: its glass-enclosed lounge boasts 360-degree views of the skyline, from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building. At the touch of a button, retractable window walls transform the lounge into a towering veranda.
As you might expect, demand for the weekend is very high and the hotel is already fully booked, so it’s worth snagging a table here and finding a base nearby. The neighbouring Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Chelsea still has rooms available with all of the advantages of being close to the High Line, Midtown, Times Square and the Hudson.
Make savvy choices
Of course, a jaunt to New York for a weekend – even a long one – is not for the faint-hearted. If you want to make the most of the trip, you'll likely find yourself taking a red eye on the way back. If you do have the budget to spare, this is one of those instances where travelling in business class is worth it; nobody returns from the city that never sleeps feeling entirely rested, but at least the lie-flat, self-contained space of a British Airways Club Suite seat means you’ll feel a bit more human when you return to real life.
How to do it: A King room at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Chelsea costs from £1,040; 3 to 6 July (marriott.com). Tables at The Fleur Room can be booked online (moxychelsea.com); rooms here cost from £120 per night. Return business class flights from London cost from £3,271 with British Airways (ba.com); economy class flights from £650.
The family hack, Turkey
The cost-of-living crisis combined with rocketing prices in the school holidays is a challenge for families looking to get away and spend some time together. But rising costs doesn’t have to mean that the international trip is scrapped entirely. A long-weekend break allows for a taste of the sun in a more affordable way. Time it right and you can find savings on long weekends that don’t involve sneaking the kids out of school or using your annual leave allowance.
© Getty ImagesGo all-inclusive
All-inclusive hotels are a great way of managing your holiday budget, and while these resorts can get a bit claustrophobic during a week-long stay, a long weekend doesn’t allow for the trip to start feeling stale.
Warmer destinations like Cyprus and Turkey are topping the charts as some of the preferred holiday spots by Brits this year, and simply swapping a summer stay for spring could save your family hundreds – if not thousands – of pounds.
Crunch the numbers
When we researched a four-star holiday on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast during August with Tui – flying from London – we found a three-night all-inclusive package, including flights, at Tui Blue Tropical costing £761pp (£3,044 for a family of four) over the August bank holiday. However, the identical package for the first bank holiday in May cost £606pp (£2,424) – that’s a saving of £620. The highest price in August for a long weekend hit £973pp (£3,890) – a difference of £1,466 against the May pricing.
Even those with higher budgets can find great savings by travelling earlier in the year. The luxurious five-star XO Cape Arnna in Fethiye, where the sisters Sam Faiers and Billie Shepherd enjoyed a family holiday last summer, comes in at £576 per night all-inclusive for a family room over the first May bank holiday. In August, the price jumps to £979 per night.
Beat the heat
For those with young children, an early long weekend has another huge advantage. The average daytime temperature in the region in May is a pleasant 25° Celcius. In August, the mercury sits around 33° Celcius, which can prove much more challenging.
How to do it: Three nights at Tui Blue Tropical (tui.co.uk) starts from £606pp (including flights). Four nights at XO Cape Arnna, Fethiye (xocollection.com) starts from £576pp (excluding flights). Both are all-inclusive over the first May bank holiday weekend.
Master shoulder season in Barcelona
Barcelona has been named the UNESCO and International Union of Architects (UIA)’s World Capital of Architecture 2026, in no small part because this year marks the 100th anniversary of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s death.
© Getty ImagesThere are an abundance of cultural events happening throughout the Spanish capital to mark the occasion, with the most significant being the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ on 10 June. Scheduled to be led by Pope Leo XIV, the ceremony will celebrate the architectural completion of the Sagrada Família church, Gaudí’s most famous work.
While the event and proceeding weekend promise to be significant, it’s likely to also draw huge crowds and heavily inflated hotel prices. For some, it could be worth planning to visit the Spanish capital over a long weekend during the later shoulder season (September to October). Not only will you avoid the crowds and beat the heat, but there are a host of other cultural spectacles to enjoy – from Barcelona Gallery Weekend and La Mercè festival in September to the 48h Open House, a weekend of free guided tours, in October.
© @Carlos GarralagaHow to do it: The El Palace Barcelona hotel has been an icon since opening in 1919. Double rooms cost from £800 for a long weekend (Saturday to Monday) in October (hotelpalacebarcelona.com). Numerous airlines service Barcelona from the UK, with long weekend flights starting from £55 return.
Reside in a Cotswolds palace
You don’t have to travel far to feel like you’ve had a break. According to Booking.com, over a quarter of us are planning more weekend domestic trips compared to 2025. After a bleak, wet winter, the weather over the Easter break helped to remind us just how spectacular the UK can be when the sun shows up.
© Getty ImagesIf you’ve always wanted to live like royalty but haven’t been able to afford the rent, it is possible to get a taste of the finer things in life – even if just for the weekend. Set on a working stock farm in the ever-popular Cotswolds near Burford, King John’s Palace sleeps up to 12 people and welcomes dogs. The former royal hunting lodge is now a Grade II*-listed farmhouse and comes with a sauna and games room. Refreshingly, the price is the same no matter which weekend you choose.
If you’re looking to explore a different corner of the UK, Classic Cottages has special sections on its website for both last-minute stays and special offers. Keep an eye on these and you could save up to 50% on your next break.
How to do it: Three nights at King John's Palace cost from £2,913 for up to 12 guests (classic.co.uk).
Plan (really far) ahead for Naples
If you’re looking to catch major sporting events like the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, it’s worth planning ahead. The first preliminary regatta heads to Sardinia in May 2026, but all eyes will be on Naples for the main event in July 2027. It’s the first time that the world’s oldest international sporting trophy has made it to Italy, and the boats cruising the waters in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius are sure to be a spectacle.
The Romeo Napoli enjoys a prime waterfront location and its views over the Gulf of Naples make it an excellent base. The dining is exceptional, with Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli having already been awarded a Michelin Star; the five-course Primizia is exquisite. The focus here is on natural cuisine. The philosophy includes treating the ingredients (many of which are vegetables) with extreme care, shortening the cooking time to create an experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Italy.
Other highlights of this stylish hotel (think Italian meets Japanese with architecture by Kenzo Tange & Associates) include two rooftop pools and stretching harbour views. Then there’s La Spa by Sisley Paris. Offering an immersive and multi-sensory experience, there’s plenty to try here, including indulgent phyto-aromatic and Kneipp therapies that combine wellness rituals and aromatherapy. There’s also a frigidarium, Finnish sauna and a range of immersion baths. Rooms have a modern feel that suits a city stay, with warm tones, dark wood and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the view over the Bay.
How to do it: Double rooms at ROMEO Napoli cost from £482 (theromeocollection.com). Flights for July 2027 are not yet on sale but numerous airlines service the airport; long weekend flights cost from £113 return.
