Two African cities have been named in a list of long-haul destinations for a summer getaway this year that are best value for money.
Travel experts at KAYAK has said that, whilst long-haul travel is on the rise, some of the popular destinations are on the more expensive side.
Australia, for instance, comes out as the most expensive place to go next summer, the company says, with an average economy return ticket to Brisbane costing £1,417.
However, there’s a silver lining, as prices for travel to the country have dropped by 7% year over year. This offers better value than before.
KAYAK adds that, whilst almost half of Brits (41%) say they would rather go on one big long-haul holiday once a year instead of multiple shorter ones, 48% of people say they would still want to spend the same amount of money that they would usually spend on a holiday, or even less, (25%) as they have already spent a lot of money on flights.
If you are looking to travel further afield this summer without spending too much money, experts say it is worth looking at some of the less popular destinations outside of Europe.
These include places such as South korea, Indonesia, Canada and the US. Holidays to two African cities in particular are included in the list – Algiers in Algeria and Marakech in Morocco.
According to Expedia, the former is “crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do”.
This includes visiting the old part of the city, including The Casbah of Algiers, which is is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
BRB Travel Blog describes how this encompasses mosques, palaces and mazed-like alleys. Some of the sites can be dated back to the 4th century BC, and have Roman, Arab, Berber and Ottoman influences, or a mix of all.
The modern part of Algiers, meanwhile, has a “French flair”. Tourists can enjoy Haussmannian-style buildings, as well as large boulevards. At times, you feel like you are in Paris, the blog adds.
Marrakesh is a former imperial city in western Morocco. Nowadays it is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens.
The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire. It has mazelike alleys, where busy marketplaces sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry.
Visible for miles is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, a symbol of Marrakesh.
But KAYAK also says that money does not seem to be a concern for everyone, as almost a quarter (23%) of people surveyed say they would actually spend more on a long-haul holiday.
They justify this by saying that they have already spent the extra money to go on a far-flung adventure, so they might as well treat themselves when they are there too.This includes everything from going out for nice meals (67%), and taking part in experiences that are not possible neither in the UK nor Europe (65%), such as snorkelling or going on a safari; to booking nicer accommodation with breakfast and a prime sunbed (51%), or even upgrading their flight to business or first class for a more comfortable and luxurious journey (29%).
In fact, business and first-class searches are up on KAYAK.co.uk by 31% and 21% on average respectively compared to summer 2024. Prices remain stable for both flight classes.
Rachel Mumford, KAYAK’s UK Travel Expert, says: “Going long-haul is always exciting. Whether you’re heading to Australia for the beautiful long beaches, or going off the beaten track in South East Asia, experiencing something new and different to home is the ultimate adventure
“2025 is shaping up to be an ideal time to tick long-haul dream destinations off your bucket list without breaking the bank, with airfare prices currently dropping to iconic destinations like Australia, Japan, and Indonesia.
“Coupled with favourable exchange rates, travellers could enjoy even greater value for their money while exploring these incredible locations.”
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