Where can I fly to from the south west?

Millions of holidaymakers across the UK take off to Spain’s shores for their summer break every year, and it’s not hard to see why. The beaches are family-friendly, the food’s off the charts and it only takes a two-hour flight to the mainland. You can reach the Costa del Sol and Costa Dorada – two of Spain’s best-known strips of coastline – with us from Bristol Airport.

If you’re more interested in uncovering the Canary Islands, we fly to Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife from both Bristol and Bournemouth Airport. These islands are anchored off the west coast of Africa, and it takes about four and a half hours to fly there. But committing to the extra travel time is well worth it once you get a glimpse of the scenery. The beaches stretch out for miles, the countryside is as scenic as it comes, and the volcanoes make for the perfect selfie backdrop.

No summer holiday line-up is complete without Greece. We’ve got flights to all different parts of this Mediterranean head honcho, including some of its iconic islands. Corfu, Crete, Rhodes and Kefalonia are all on the menu from both of the airports we fly from in the south west. The three formers are some of the biggest isles Greece has under its belt, so expect the beaches, thousand-year-old landmarks and hotel selection to follow the bigger-is-better mentality. Kefalonia, meanwhile, is a more chilled spot, where seafront tavernas and tucked-away coves squabble for the limelight.

Our Greek holidays from Bristol Airport also include some lesser-known locations, like Skiathos, Kos and Halkidiki. Skiathos has bagged a reputation for being a place to go if you’re after a touch of romance. After all, one of the most popular rom-coms of the last 20 years, Mamma Mia!, was partly filmed here. Elsewhere, Kos is a great pick if you want to add a touch of nightlife to your Greek island getaway – there’s no shortage of bars and clubs in some of its bigger towns, like Kardamena.

Dalaman or Antalya – that’s the only question you have to ask if you’re looking for a holiday to Turkey and want to fly from the south west. We have flights to both parts of Turkey from Bristol and Bournemouth, so you’ve got an extra degree of flexibility when booking your getaway.

Like a lot of holiday destinations that are pulled up along the Mediterranean Sea, Dalaman puts most of its weight behind its beaches. It’s in a part of Turkey that’s known as the Turquoise Coast – think the French Riviera with a Turkish twist. There are more Blue-Flag beaches here than you can shake a Cornish pasty at, and a lot of the big All Inclusive resorts here have managed to get their hands on postcodes right by the water’s edge, making it super easy for you to go from pool to beach to buffet and back again.

As coastlines come, it’s much of the same story in Antalya, which is about 100 miles to the east of Dalaman. This part of Turkey, though, amps up its family-friendly beach scene with a lively city that’s a poster child of how the country’s managed to blend old and new together. The harbour is lined with Turkish eateries, and the nearby streets are stuffed with souvenir stores – think Islamic-themed ornaments and spice gift sets. All this sits within a 10-minute walk of some of Antalya’s malls, where top-brand boutiques are more in fashion.

A lot of people think you have to catch a flight from somewhere like Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester to get to the USA. Not true. If you live in the south west of England, you can hop on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Bristol Airport and soar off to Florida’s sandy shores.

We land at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, not Sanford Orlando International Airport. This means when you touch down you’re super close to trendy beach towns like Melbourne Beach and Cocoa Beach. Florida’s collection of theme parks – specifically Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort – are about a 90-minute drive away. If you book one of our stress-free package holidays, your transfers to and from Melbourne Orlando International Airport are included – ideal for a once-in-a-lifetime trip with your little ones.

Travelling with a pasta, pesto or pizza fan? You’ll want to treat them to a trip to Italy. We have flights from Bristol Airport to Naples International Airport, in the Campania region. It’s the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, the town of Sorrento, the islands of Capri and Ischia, as well as one of the world’s most well-known ancient landmarks, Pompeii.

No matter which part you choose to plant yourself in, you can rest assured the views are one in a million. Sorrento is particularly scenic, since a good chunk of the town is layered in tiers like a wedding cake along the cliffside. It’s also a great hub to get to know the local food scene. The eatery roster here packs in sea-view bars which specialise in one of the area’s signature tipples, limoncello, as well as traditional gelato parlours and family-run bakeries. There’s a hearty fishing heritage around this part of Italy, too, so don’t be surprised to find the catch of the day combined with classic pasta dishes.

Florida isn’t the only further-flung destination you can pick from if you live in the south west. Our Mexico holidays from Bristol Airport touch down in Cancun, on the Caribbean Coast. Just like Florida, you’ll fly there in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has specially designed light and oxygen systems to help reduce jetlag.

You’ve got a handful of resorts to choose from in this part of Mexico. The city of Cancun is the biggest name on the block, and is the region’s nightlife centre. There’s an entire district called the Hotel Zone that’s loaded with malls, restaurants, clubs and waterfront hotels. Further down the coast, you’ll find places like Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya, which are all about slowing down and recharging your batteries. The focus here is split between the beaches, Mayan ruins and cenotes. These natural freshwater pools are unique to the Yucatan Peninsula and are thought to have originated after the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs hit Earth over 66 million years ago.

Ready to book your next break from the south west?

Check out our holidays from Bournemouth and Bristol Airport. And, for inspiration, check out where you can fly to from the midlands.

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Author: Ben Staff

Last updated: 30.08.2023