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Five destinations you didn’t expect us to fly to

Think you know our routes? Find out five destinations you didn't expect us to fly to.
When it comes to flying, we’ve more than earned our wings. We soar away to more than 80 destinations a year, from over 20 UK airports. But, many of you are still surprised to hear about some of our routes – especially those that are exclusive to TUI Airways. While we’re connoisseurs in short haul, we’ve also got loads of direct, long-haul routes under our belt. They’re made extra comfy with our Dreamliners, too. Here are the ones you might not have expected...

BRISTOL > DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

You can swap out the Clifton Suspension Bridge for Punta Cana, and see why it’s been nicknamed the ‘coconut coast of the Caribbean’. Stay on Bavaro Beach and watch the sunset while sipping a rum on the rocks. Spot sea horses and lionfish on Catalina Island, or explore the capital city, Santo Domingo, and visit one of the oldest churches in the world.

Average flight time: 9 hours 15 minutes
You can also fly from: Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.

GATWICK > COSTA RICA

We’re proud to say we’re the only UK airline that goes direct to Costa Rica’s Liberia – the perfect launch pad to explore the rest of the country. It’s worth noting that a quarter of eco-warrior Costa Rica is protected, meaning you’ve got national parks, wildlife havens, and nature reserves right on your doorstep. If you fancy it, add the Monteverde Cloud Forest to your to-do list – prepare to be enchanted by the mist that hangs low over its green canopies.

Average flight time: 11 hours 15 minutes

MANCHESTER > ARUBA

Manchester to Aruba is an exclusive TUI Airways route, so seats are going like hot cakes. On arrival, we recommend heading to Renaissance Island to meet its most fabulous inhabitants, a colony of fuchsia-feathered flamingos. After you’ve taken a snap or 20, grab your towel and take your pick from Aruba’s award-winning beaches. Eagle Beach is stunning and quiet, but next door you’ll find Palm Beach, which ups the tempo and offers the perfect waves to try a spot of jet-skiing.

Average flight time: 8 hours 35 minutes
You can also fly from: Gatwick

GATWICK > VIETNAM

Phu Quoc is a gateway to beach paradise, with Long Beach on its doorstep – an aptly named stretch of sand that goes on 12 miles. But it’s not all sand. In fact, 90 per cent of the island is cloaked in forests. Over 31,000 hectares is national park – go for a tour and, if you're lucky, you'll spot some of the world’s most impressive wildlife, including bears and snub-nosed monkeys. Phu Quoc also puts you in a good position to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay, and shoppers’ paradise, Hanoi. You’ll be pretty close to Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh, too. Can’t ask for a better base than that…

Average flight time: 11 hours 50 minutes

MANCHESTER > GOA

Hippie hangout, Goa, is in particular easy reach over the winter, thanks to regular flights from Manchester. Head to North Goa to visit ancient temples, relax on the beach with the locals in Anjuna, or bag a colourful bargain in the Arpora night market. South Goa is even more laidback, if that’s possible. Sun yourself on Cavelossim Beach, or head 20 minutes down the road to Varca, where wooden fishing boats dot the coast and mango trees line the sand.

Average flight time: 9 hours, 20 minutes
You can also fly from: Gatwick and Birmingham
Fancy it?

Have a look at our range of direct flights.

Plus, most of our long-haul holidays fly out on our state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliners. Benefits include mood-lighting that helps you adjust to new time zones and an improved cabin pressure to reduce jetlag. They’re also much quieter and more spacious than other planes. Handy. 

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles. 

Author: Lucy Perrin

Last updated: 10.03.2022

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