Holiday comparisons

Side-by-side comparisons to help you choose between destinations, board basis options and holiday styles.

• Maldives vs Dubai: which holiday is better?

  Choose the Maldives if you want a quiet, resort-based beach holiday with a premium romantic feel. Choose Dubai if you want hotels, restaurants, shopping, attractions and more flexibility outside the hotel.

• Dubai vs Turkey: which is better value?

  Dubai suits travellers who want premium hotels, restaurants, attractions and reliable winter sun, with an easy on-arrival entry for UK passport holders. Turkey suits travellers who want large all-inclusive resorts, bigger family facilities and a longer hot summer, also with no visa needed for short stays. The real swing factor is what's included in the price: Dubai hotels are rarely all-inclusive, so your spending continues well after check-in; Turkey's biggest resorts are built to keep most of your spending inside the gate.

• All-inclusive vs half-board: which board basis should you choose?

  All-inclusive suits resort-led stays where you will eat and drink mostly at the hotel. Half-board suits travellers who want breakfast and dinner covered but still want flexibility during the day.

• Beach Resort vs City Hotel

  Beach resorts suit pool-and-sea weeks with minimal travel. City hotels suit sightseeing, dining out and day trips — including hybrid destinations like Dubai.

• Maldives Seaplane vs Speedboat

  Speedboats suit nearby resorts at lower cost. Seaplanes reach distant atolls but add significant price and daylight scheduling constraints.

• Turkey vs Spain: which is better value?

  Spain generally wins on flight time, ease of booking and short-break flexibility — it's roughly half the flying time of Turkey and sits inside the EU's existing tourist framework. Turkey generally wins on all-inclusive resort value, larger family hotel facilities and a longer reliable summer season. One thing that's about to flip this comparison slightly: from late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS authorisation to enter Spain, while Turkey — outside the Schengen Area — won't require one.