Destinations where Brits can go on holiday are currently limited, but that doesn't mean you can't indulge in a bit of holiday dreaming - and a new list of Europe's best spots for cheap 5* hotel stays could be just the thing.
In fact, the research has uncovered that some of Brits' favourite holiday spots including Crete, Turkey and Portugal are actually among Europes best destinations for cheap luxury holidays.
It's the city of Heraklion in Crete which has been revealed as the best holiday spot for budget-friendly glamorous hotels, with an average price of £79 a night for stays in 5* accommodation.
Meanwhile Turkey also proved a hit, taking the next two spots in the top 10 rankings, with Istanbul and Antalya offering stays for average prices of £83 and £84 a night respectively. (You can check out the full top 10 list below).
The new rankings have been unveiled by LuxuryHotels.com which conducted research to uncover which European destinations offer the best bargains for 5* hotel stays.
In fact, the brand created a Five Star Hotel Index for those who are looking to make future holidays more glamorous.
If you're keen on luxurious stays, you may also want to add Abu Dhabi to the bucket list - the research unveiled that it was the city with the highest number of 5* hotels in the world. (32% of the city's hotels boast a 5* rating).
10 best European destinations for cheap 5* hotels
- Heraklion, Crete - £79
- Istanbul, Turkey - £83
- Antalya, Turkey - £84
- Krakow, Poland - £91
- Warsaw, Poland - £105
- St Petersburg, Russia - £107
- Moscow, Russia - £116
- Porto, Portugal - £125
- Rhodes, Greece - £138
- Berlin, Germany - £152
Of course currently, holidays to these destinations remain off the cards for Brits, with all of them currently on the UK's amber and red lists. This means that the Foreign Office usually advises against travel, and that if you do return you'll need to either self-isolate at home (amber destinations) or stay in a mandatory quarantine hotel (red destinations).
In both cases, this also includes needing to take a pre-departure test, as well as PCR tests on days two and eight. (For amber destinations, you can opt for a PCR test on day five, where a negative result will release you from your self-isolation early).
We have a wider guide explaining the travel rules for amber and green destinations - including what happens if you've booked a holiday but a green list country but it becomes amber or red. (We also have a Portugal specific guide for those who have been left in the lurch due to the country being moved to the amber list this week).
If you're hoping to head abroad as restrictions ease, then you may want to sign up to our travel newsletter for a weekly dose of the latest news, updates, deals and destination ideas that we think are worth having on your radar.
Sticking to a staycation this year? Then you may want to bookmark our UK holidays page with heaps of ideas for quirky accommodation, beautiful locations, and last-minute deals.
Where will you be travelling first for a holiday once restrictions lift? Let us know in the comments below.
