Long-haul holidays

A long-haul holiday’s one where you can settle in and enjoy a couple of in-flight films because your flight is going to be at least six hours long.

The world’s your oyster with long-haul holidays. Chill on the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean, discover the exotic food of Thailand and Indonesia, or go on safari in the wilds of Tanzania. There are so many long-haul destinations to choose from at TUI.

Mexico is a year-round long-haul destination, thanks to balmy temperatures, soft breezes and warm seas. If you like it hot, the summer months see the thermometers climb from the high 20s to the low 30s, while the winter months still hover around 28°C but with slightly higher humidity. If you head to Mexico between June and November, you might catch the occasional downpour, but it’s usually brief, and hotels tend to have lots of indoor things to keep you happy until the sun pops back out.

Just so you know, some beaches along Mexico’s Caribbean Coast sometimes see increased levels of seaweed called sargassum. Your hotel team will do everything they can to clear the beach as quickly as they can.

If you like things lively, March is ‘Spring Break’, and you might find yourself partying with our US and Canadian friends. Cancun and Los Cabos are party hot spots, but away from the main centres, you’ll still find plenty of peace and quiet.

That will depend on the long-haul destination you choose. From food tours to full-day excursions, you’ll find more details about your destination on our things to do page.

Not all places have a tip culture, but in some destinations, like Mexico and the Caribbean, a little gratuity is greatly appreciated. Our top tip (no pun intended) is to make sure you have some low-denomination notes so you can tip porters, waiters and other staff a couple of dollars when you order drinks or snacks.

Some of our hotels have TUI reps on-site. But don’t worry if there isn’t a rep service because you can get in touch with us any time, day or night, through the TUI app. All our hotel listings will include information on reps in the ‘About the Hotel’ section, including how to get in touch with your rep if needed.

If your flight is over seven hours long, you’ll get a meal as part of your deal, including vegetarian options, a glass of wine or juice, and tea or coffee to follow. Before you touch down at your long-haul destination, you’ll also be offered breakfast or afternoon tea, depending on the time of day. For real long-haul marathons, you’ll sometimes get ‘grab bags’ full of tasty snacks and treats to keep you going. Hot snacks and sandwiches are not available on long-haul flights.

Our airline partners are experts at holiday flights. You’ll be travelling with teams from Aer Lingus, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airways, Air France, KLM, Delta, United, Qatar Airways, and Air Canada, so you know you’re in good hands. They keep well-stocked bars, including hot, soft, and alcoholic drinks, although some more indulgent treats will cost extra. The crew will take care of everything for you – just ask.

We understand that some people have specific dietary needs, so if you’re flying to a long-haul destination, you can arrange a diet-specific meal as soon as you’ve confirmed your booking. You can change your request up to 24 hours before your flight. Use Manage My Booking, call our Customer Service team, or chat to your local in-store rep for more information.

If your flight to your long-haul destination is longer than seven hours, we’ll keep you entertained all the way. Seatback screens offer on-demand TV, movies and games to while away the hours. Or download your favourite entertainment onto your personal device, plug it into the USB port on the back of the seat and enjoy the show without worrying about battery levels.

It will depend on the type of long-haul holiday package you’ve booked, but generally, our standard luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Find out more on our Luggage Allowance page.

We want your long-haul holiday to be one to remember from the second you step onboard your flight. You can opt to pick your spot on the plane using the Select Your Seat option when you book. Use the seat map to choose your seat or revisit it after your booking is confirmed by simply logging into Manage My Booking

We make sure kids under 12 are seated next to at least one adult in the same party so they feel happy and secure. The seat can be in the same row, one row behind, one row in front, or across the aisle.