Recent booking data* from leading travel agency SuperEscapes has revealed some of the most popular destinations for winter holidays.
*All details correct at time of publication (19 October 2026)
With the traditional festive markets of Europe and the warmer climes of Malta, Benidorm and Thailand proving popular, SuperEscapes is seeing an average booking lead time of six to eight weeks for winter breaks, with November and January being the most popular months to travel.
Continuing the rising trend of ‘microcations’ – shorter, more intentional holidays that last just a few days – UK travellers are opting for short city breaks and four- to five-night winter sun escapes throughout some of Europe’s most popular destinations.
Travellers seeking short autumn breaks, post-Christmas getaways and the opportunity to explore some of Europe’s renowned Christmas markets continue to drive strong uplift for city breaks throughout the cooler months, with the historic cities of Prague, Krakow, Budapest and Stockholm being the four most popular destinations for winter.
Budget-conscious consumers seeking winter sun are driving demand for Malta and Benidorm, in particular, where winter accommodation rates are much lower than during the summer months. Typically, travellers are opting for shorter, four to five-night stays on a half-board basis, helping them to keep within budget, while also securing that much-loved break.
While previously a hot spot for late winter sun bookings, SuperEscapes has seen a 25% decrease in bookings for Majorca, which SuperEscapes attributes to higher prices and reduced availability for late bookings.
When it comes to long and mid-haul holidays, New York is proving popular with bookings up 52% year-on-year, while Phuket is driving demand for Thailand, with stays averaging 11 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
Example Packages – Prices are based on departures from London airports; departures from other regional airports are also available.
- New York City break, staying three nights at the 4* Row NYC Hotel on a room-only basis from £599pp, including return flights from London Heathrow. Applicable for selected departure dates between 1 October 2026 and 10 July 2027.
- Three-night Prague City Break, staying at the 4* Metropolitan Old Town on a room-only basis from £109pp, including return flights from London Stansted. Applicable for selected departure dates in November and December 2026.
- Three-night Krakow city break, staying at the 4* Metropolitan Boutique Hotel on a room-only basis from £119pp, including return flights from London Gatwick. Applicable for selected departure dates in November and December 2026.
- Three-night Budapest city break, staying at Mamaison Residence Izabella Budapest from £199pp on a room-only basis, including flights from London Gatwick. Applicable for selected departure dates in November and December 2026.
- Four-night Costa Brava beach escape, staying at the 3* Hotel GHT Costa Brava & Spa on a half-board basis from £149pp, including return flights from London Gatwick. Applicable for selected departure dates from October 2026 to May 2027.
For more hand-picked destinations and short-haul luxury escapes, visit www.superescapes.co.uk.
*Data based on bookings made between 1 May 2026 and 15 September 2026 for travel between 1 November 2026 and 30 April 2027.
The most popular destinations being booked via SuperEscapes, in order, are*:
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Krakow, Poland
- Budapest, Hungary
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Malta
- Benidorm, Spain
- Costa Brava, Spain
