beat the brochure

You don’t need to suffer through an 18 hour plane journey to reach unusual and exciting holiday destination. Beat the Brochure offer great deals on package holidays and cheap flights to sun-soaked destinations that are mere hours from the often rain-drenched UK. Here’s just four of our favourite destinations for those times you just have to get away from it all!

Utrecht, Netherlands
Flying to Amsterdam, your flight will take you an hour and 10 minutes and from there the delights of Utrecht are just a 45 minute journey from Holland’s capital. Utrecht is massively underrated, but can be thought of as a mini-Amsterdam, minus the famous red light district. Utrecht is a culturally significant city in Holland and is packed with interesting things to see and do, but without the hubbub and noise of Amsterdam. Less hedonistic than its “big brother”, Utrecht is a great place to go for a quiet and cultural holiday.

Prague, Czech Republic
Flying directly into Prague Ruzyně International airport, it will take a measly hour and 55 minute flight for you to set foot in the Czech capital. Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage site and with its stunning Gothic architecture it’s not hard to see why. Prague has a rich history and is full of such interesting sights as the 12^th century Old Town Hall and its enigmatic Astronomical Clock that is well worth a visit. Prague’s nightlife is renowned and this has made it a top choice for cheap city breaks for young professionals looking to dance their weekends away.

Venice, Italy
Venice is one of Europe’s most breath-taking cities and with a direct flight taking only two hours and 10 minutes there’s no excuse for not taking a one in a lifetime holiday to this stunning place. Venice is a wonderful place to go on a cultural or romantic break, whether you fancy taking a ride on its famous gondolas or whiling away the hours admiring St Mark’s Basilica. Venice is thought to be sinking gradually year upon year and although it’s probably in no danger of disappearing in the near future, why take the chance?

Athens, Greece
Your flight to Athens will take you straight into the city’s own airport in a swift three hours and 35 minutes. A holiday to Athens is a visit to the birthplace of modern civilisation and holds a treasure trove of historical sights to see. You can wander through the streets of The Plaka, Athens’ oldest neighbourhood, and explore its hundreds of shops – you’ll find everything from kitchy tourist shops to artisan craft houses or party on the streets of Psiri in the evenings. For a short hop on a plane, there’s no place quite like Athens.

Have you visited any of these stunning cities? How long did your journey take you in total? Get in touch via the comments!