Holidaymaker relaxing in a pool on a luxury holiday.

Luxury holidays

Deals from £449 per person

Luxury holidays put more into the hotel experience, from 5-star service to smaller boutique stays. Expect personal touches, carefully chosen destinations and hotels where the details matter as much as the star rating. That could mean a private beach club for two, a family suite with room to spread out or a villa where the whole group can stay together. And if you'd rather have more included from the start, luxury All Inclusive holidays can cover most meals, drinks and more within your stay. From the Mediterranean to long-haul shores, find a holiday with a little more thought behind it.

Why choose a luxury holiday?

A luxury holiday can mean more space, more attentive service and a hotel that feels like part of the trip, rather than simply somewhere to sleep. At 5-star resorts, that might include upgraded room categories, several restaurants, private beach areas or service by the pool. Smaller boutique hotels put more emphasis on individual design and a more personal touch. Destinations are chosen for the hotels that stand out there, not the other way around. You can choose how much you want included, too. Go All Inclusive for meals and drinks, boutique for something smaller-scale or long haul when the setting matters just as much as the hotel.

Luxury holiday destinations

Types of luxury holiday

Luxury All Inclusive holidays

Luxury All Inclusive holidays take more of the day-to-day spending out of the equation, with most meals and drinks included and some hotels adding à la carte dining, activities or entertainment. At 5-star resorts, you may also find several pools, waiter service and different restaurants within the hotel. They suit trips where you’ll spend much of your time at the resort, especially if you’d rather know what’s covered before you go.

Boutique and adult only holidays

Luxury boutique holidays put the hotel firmly in the spotlight. Think fewer rooms, individual interiors and smaller restaurants rather than a sprawling resort set-up. Some are adults only, although travelling without kids doesn’t necessarily mean choosing a boutique hotel. Names like Mitsis in Greece show how a big hotel group can still deliver that boutique-style personal touch. If that’s important to you, our adult-only holidays cover hotels designed specifically for grown-up stays. Otherwise, boutique is more about scale, character and a hotel that feels less like it has come from a template.

Luxury family holidays

Luxury family holidays are less about formality and more about having the things that make travelling together work better. Family suites or interconnecting rooms add space, and some hotels have separate sleeping areas that mean bedtime doesn’t have to be bedtime for everyone. Look at how the room works for your family, not just how many people it sleeps.

Luxury long-haul holidays

Long-haul trips open up hotel experiences that are harder to replicate closer to home, from overwater villas in the Maldives to beachfront resorts in Mauritius and the Caribbean. Longer flights also make the hotel decision more important if much of the trip will be spent there. Think about location, room type and board basis, plus how much time you expect to spend at the resort. Our long-haul holidays are a useful next stop if the Caribbean, Indian Ocean or somewhere further afield is calling.

Luxury Adult-Only Holidays

Need to take some time out of parenting or just want a child-free getaway where you can live the high life without kids bombing in the pool? Luxury adult-only escapes are bound to hit the spot! Relax on Bali beds or in-room hot tubs without having to worry about any distractions. Catch up with your friends over cocktails made exactly to your liking or secure a love nest right by the ocean and enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand. We’ve found grown-up getaways in the Caribbean if you want to really push the boat out alongside European retreats in Turkey, Spain and Greece.

Luxury Family Holidays

For those extra special weeks away, a luxury holiday as a family is the perfect way to enjoy total indulgence. The best luxury hotels will have activities and entertainment for everyone, plus there’ll be kids’ clubs and even babysitting for when parents want a bit of downtime. Look out for the Ikos and Sani hotels as well as Hillside Beach Club in Turkey. And for the ultimate family getaway, check out Club Med. 

Best destinations for luxury holidays

Caribbean

Luxury holidays in the Caribbean cover a wide range of stays, from adult-only hotels in Antigua to family resorts in the Dominican Republic. Or there’s Barbados where you'll find 5-star hotels with beach clubs, sea-view rooms and restaurants close to the sand. If the Caribbean is calling, our long-haul holidays are a useful place to start narrowing down where to stay.

Indian Ocean

The Maldives and Mauritius offer very different luxury holidays. In the Maldives, overwater villas, private pools and small island resorts put the hotel at the centre of the trip. Mauritius has 5-star resorts with family facilities, plus some fantastic excursions if you fancy some days away from the hotel. You’ll find both destinations among our long-haul holidays, with flight and hotel packages from the UK.

Dubai & UAE

Dubai pairs 5-star beach hotels with a city you’ll probably want to leave the sun lounger for. Big names like Armani and Versace have hotels here, alongside the landmark Burj Al Arab. Spend the morning by the pool, then head to Downtown Dubai for the Burj Khalifa, restaurants and shopping. Hotel styles run from resorts on Palm Jumeirah to high-rise city stays, and our Dubai holidays can help you decide which part of the city will make the best base.

Mediterranean – Greece and Turkey

Want boutique hotels and adult-only stays that are closer to home? Greece and Turkey are just short flights from the UK. Crete and Rhodes have both smaller hotels and 5-star resorts, and Rixos is one name worth knowing on the Turkish coast  Or there’s Turkey’s Antalya coast  which has properties with multiple pools, restaurants and private beach areas. Our Greece, Turkey and adult-only holidays can take you closer to the kind of stay you have in mind.

Luxury Holidays in Dubai

With some of the world’s best-known luxury brands including Armani and Versace as well as the original Burj al Arab, hotels in Dubai are nothing short of amazing. Plus, with some of the flashiest of shopping malls, the UAE capital is the place to be seen in your finest day and night. Be sure to put on your Sunday best for your nights out as your fellow diners and drinkers will be sure to put on a show.

Luxury All Inclusive Holidays

Not having to worry about your food and drink spends is the ultimate in luxury. That's why Thomas Cook has sourced a huge selection of luxury All Inclusive hotels all over the world including five-star resorts in Turkey, Greece, Spain and Mexico. Treat yourself and your family to everything their heart – and tummies – desire with a luxury All Inclusive holiday this year. 

Luxury holidays for couples, families & groups

Luxury couple holidays

Luxury couple holidays might mean a room with its own pool, dinner overlooking the sea or a hotel where nobody’s setting an alarm for the kids’ club. Boutique stays can add a smaller, more personal feel.

Luxury family stays

For families, the details that matter are often practical ones. Interconnecting rooms, family suites, kids’ clubs and several places to eat can take some of the faff out of travelling with children.

Luxury group holidays

Travelling together doesn’t have to mean identical hotel rooms along the same corridor. Villas, suites with separate bedrooms and resorts with several restaurants leave groups room to spend time together – and apart.

Luxury City Breaks

Jetting off for a few days? What better excuse to splash out on some city break luxury. Enjoy a weekend of indulgence with five-star hotels in all of your favourite cities, from Rome to New York. Bag a room with a rooftop terrace so you can appreciate those famous landmarks up close. Or, delight in VIP treatment from the minute you check in with a unique personalised service. If you're after some head-to-toe pampering once you’re done sightseeing, you'll also find properties featuring world-class spa treatments.

Luxury on a budget vs ultra-luxury

You don’t need to book the most expensive suite in the hotel to make a luxury holiday count. A 5-star All Inclusive resort can include several restaurants, pools and beach access, with standard rooms keeping the cost down. Spend more and the differences become more personal –  think upgraded dining, a smaller boutique hotel, butler service or a villa with extra space.

Which upgrades will you actually notice? If you’re rarely in your room, the sea-view suite may matter less than the restaurants, service or facilities you’ll use every day.

Luxury Beach Holidays

Nothing says luxury quite like a hotel that’s right on the beach. Gaze into the sea from your sunbed with hotels just inches away from some of the world’s most stunning, sun-drenched shorelines. Think 5 star stays cosied up next to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean hideaways perfect for evening strolls along the sand. Or maybe you’d prefer hotels in Turkey where you get perks like a private beach complete with waiter service and cabanas.

Best time to book a luxury holiday

Looking at luxury holidays 2026? Book earlier if you have your eye on a specific hotel, suite or travel date, especially for school holidays and other peak periods. More flexibility can open up different options. Travelling just outside the busiest weeks may mean better value or more room categories to choose from. No single booking window guarantees a better deal, so start with the parts of the holiday you don’t want to compromise on.

FAQs

FAQs

What makes a holiday “luxury”?

A luxury holiday usually starts with the hotel – its service, rooms, restaurants and facilities. A 5-star rating is useful, but look at the details too. Private beach areas, upgraded room types, smaller guest numbers or butler service can make more difference to your stay than the rating alone.

What’s included in a luxury All Inclusive holiday?

Luxury All Inclusive holidays usually cover most meals and local drinks, with inclusions varying by hotel. Some 5-star resorts add à la carte restaurants, activities, entertainment or selected branded drinks. Check the hotel details before booking, especially if there’s a restaurant or service you’re expecting to be included.

Are luxury holidays good for families?

Luxury family holidays can make travelling with little ones feel less complicated when the hotel is set up for families. Check what’s included for kids, which facilities match their ages and how the board basis works for family meals. The useful extras are the ones your family will actually use each day.

What’s the difference between luxury and boutique holidays?

Luxury describes the standard of the stay, while boutique usually describes the hotel’s scale and style. Boutique hotels tend to have fewer rooms and a more individual design, but they aren’t automatically 5-star. A large resort can be luxurious too, with a bigger choice of restaurants, pools and facilities under one roof.

Which destinations are best for luxury holidays?

Luxury holidays span the Caribbean, Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai, Greece and Turkey, but your  experience will differ by destination. Look to the Maldives for overwater villas, Dubai for 5-star city and beach stays, or Greece and Turkey for boutique hotels and resorts closer to the UK.

See also

Winter sun holidays
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Adult only holidays
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Beach holidays
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City breaks
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All Inclusive holidays
Get all you need for one price
Family holidays
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Cheap Holidays
Holiday package deals
Long haul holidays
To far-flung shores
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