Active Holidays

You've got a bunch of options if you're looking for a game of golf abroad. Word on the green has it that the Algarve has some of the best views around, which is why Portugal's always a popular golfing spot. Turkey is also up there, with its whopping five-star hotels and even bigger golf greens, along with Dubai and its swanky courses fit for the finest celebs. If you prefer more of a chilled vibe, then you'll be pleased to know that the Canaries have trusty golf weather all year round, and Spain has a few championship golf courses up its sleeve, too. Looks like you're spoilt for choice there!

Well, the hardest part is probably picking a destination! There are plenty of golf hotspots to choose from, but you'll want to keep in mind the kind of golf you want to play, the time of year you plan on going, and who you're bringing. A lads' stag weekend where you're all just out for a good time is probably going to be quite a different vibe to you and your pro golf buds who are looking for an actual tournament, for example.

Once you've narrowed all that down, you can start researching specific destinations and courses. Lots of destinations have golf courses within reach, but choosing a hotel that has its own partnership with a course or one on site might make it a bit easier for you to plan. From here, you can check whether you need to book your tee times in advance, and whether you'll need to pay any green fees (lots of hotels include these complimentary, if they're partnered with the course!).

Whatever you go for, we're sure you'll have a quali-tee time ⛳

That all depends on which course you've got your eye on, and which season you're gonna be playing in. Here's a handy tip though: if you stay in a hotel with its own golf grounds, they'll usually throw in discounted fees or even a couple of free rounds, if they're feeling generous. Otherwise, you'll have to pay green fees to get your golf on, which can range from budget-friendly to a couple of hundred Euros depending on the course and location. Facilities like golf buggies will cost you a bit extra too, but that's the price to pay for going VIP.

Most courses in popular golfing destinations like the Algarve, Turkey and the Canary Islands offer club hire on site, so you don't need to lug your bag through the airport. Rental sets are usually decent quality and available for a reasonable daily fee. That said, if you're particular about your clubs, most airlines let you check golf bags as sports luggage for an extra charge. Worth checking your airline's policy before you book.

There isn't really one top location that takes the cycling crown (well, it may or may not be the Netherlands but we prefer our holidays with great cycle tracks and great beaches ideally). There are some pretty popular spots on our radar, though. Majorca is up there as a firm favourite for holidaymakers from the UK and Ireland, thanks to its topsy-turvy terrain of flat roads and rolling hills which make it great for practising on. Portugal and Italy have become increasingly popular with cyclists over the last few years too, but one of the top dogs among professionals is actually Girona in Spain. A lot of professional cyclists live here because of the accessible routes, traffic-free roads and great coffee. Even without the cycling part that sounds pretty fandabidozi.

There's an app for everything these days - from what's-this-plant-called? identifiers to virtual drinks coasters (we're not sure either). There are a ton of cycling apps out there, so if you download one of them, you'll only be a few clicks away from finding the routes closest to you - no matter where in the world you are. Or, if you fancy doing things the old-fashioned way, you can ask at your hotel. Easy! Reception staff are trained to help with the most weird and wonderful questions, so if you ask them where the best local cycling routes are, they'll be more than happy to help - and chances are, they might even have a few insightful nuggets that you can't get from the apps.

As fit as you feel comfortable being, is the short answer! Our cycle-friendly hotels are super-chill, meaning you can either hire all the gear and go off into the mountains, or keep it easy-breezy with a rental along the promenade. It's totally up to you how daring you want to be, how far you fancy pedalling, and how often you want to do it while you're away. Some destinations even offer guided tours if you'd rather cycle as part of a group - that way you'll always have a professional at hand to keep you on course.

Most cycling-friendly hotels and resorts offer bike hire on site or can arrange it locally, so you don't need to worry about getting your own bike on the plane. Some hotels, like the Emelda Sun Club in Turkey, even offer electric bike charging, repair services and technical support. If you do want to bring your own, airlines generally carry bikes as oversized luggage for an additional fee, but check the specific policy before you book.

Word under the sea has it that May to November is considered your golden window for diving season, but it also depends on what the weather's like where you're heading, and who you fancy bumping fins with under the water. For example, in the Maldives the east has those chilled, clear-water vibes at the start of the year, and then from May onwards it does a little switcharoo, with the west being the calmest place for a dip and the east gets a bit choppier.

OK, hold your snorkel while we get all sciency for a sec. When you dive, your body absorbs nitrogen. So, after you dive, your body needs time to 'off-gas' that excess nitrogen, otherwise it can form bubbles in your bloodstream (not fun). The pressure inside an aeroplane cabin is similar to the pressure you feel when you dive deep into the water, so if you do both in the same 24 hours without letting your body recover, it can lead to something called 'decompression sickness,' or 'the bends,' as you might know it. Long story short: scuba diving is all fun and games as long as you avoid it on your take-off and landing days. Stay safe!

Well, that all depends on what you're looking for! Every dive spot's got its own vibe, but if you fancy mashing a bit of history with your marine life, then the Red Sea in Egypt is your place. You can be ducking between shark reefs one minute, exploring ancient shipwrecks the next. If you're looking for those crayola-coloured Finding Nemo vibes though, then somewhere a bit more exotic like the Maldives with its glassy-clear waters or Thailand with its tropical marine life is your best bet. See where your flippers fancy.

Nope. Most resort diving schools offer beginner courses (often called "Discover Scuba" or "Try Dive" experiences) that let you have a go in shallow water with a qualified instructor, no prior experience needed. If you want to dive independently, you'll need a PADI Open Water certification, which you can complete abroad in around three to four days. Some hotels in Egypt and Thailand have on-site dive centres that run the full course, so you could go from zero to certified in a single holiday.

Simply put, it's a holiday where you do a lot of walking! But it's entirely up to you how much of your time you actually want to spend walking. It might be that you just want to plan one or two trails and spend the rest of the time lounging by the pool (we absolutely approve), or maybe you want to try a new walk every day! With these hiking holidays you'll be close to a choice of routes so you can pick what works for you.

Comfy walking shoes are a MUST, even if you're only planning on doing simple trails. You're gonna want to swap those flip-flops for some supportive shoes with strong soles, keeping in mind that some of the land you're walking across might be a bit rough and rocky. Make sure the rest of your outfit is comfortable too, and something that you won't get too hot in. Don't forget a rucksack so you have something to take on your walks! This can double as a flight bag so you don't need to pack a separate one.

When it comes to the actual hikes while you're away, a water bottle is essential for any walking trip - but especially when you're abroad! That sun's gonna be beating down, so if you don't have a refillable bottle, make sure you buy water from somewhere before you set off. Keep sun cream with you at all times too for regular top-ups - no walk is worth burning to a crisp!

The good thing is, hiking trails are generally open to the public all year round, so you can go whenever you like! But that doesn't mean some seasons won't give you a better experience than others. If you're keeping it chilled with a couple of leisurely walks, then these should still be pretty manageable on your summer holiday, but for anything more intense or if you struggle in hot weather, you'll want to stick to the spring and autumn seasons when the weather's still dry but temperatures are a bit cooler.

The Great Trail (appropriately named) in Canada is the world's longest hiking trail, stretching over a whopping 14,000 miles. But...size isn't everything, right? If you're feeling brave, you could plan this out... or take a look at some of our other great holidays that come with some cracking walking routes and hiking trails to satisfy your cravings - and you'll actually be able to complete these ones in a day.

Yes, loads. Most popular hiking destinations offer guided walks that cater to all fitness levels, from gentle coastal strolls to full-day mountain treks. Tenerife and Lanzarote both have well-organised trail networks with guided options, and Crete is famous for the Samaria Gorge walk which runs as a guided day trip from most resorts. Your hotel reception can usually point you towards local walking tour operators, and some hotels arrange group hikes as part of their activity programmes.

Active holidays are holidays where you do more than just lounge by the pool (though there's nothing wrong with that too). They're built around activities like golf, cycling, hiking, diving, or watersports, usually in a destination with the weather and terrain to make it worth getting off the sun lounger. Most activity holidays still include plenty of downtime, and you can do as much or as little as you fancy. The idea is having the option, not the obligation.

It depends on the activity. For golf, the Algarve, Turkey and the Canary Islands are the top picks. For cycling, Majorca and mainland Spain have some of the best routes in Europe. For diving, Egypt and Thailand are hard to beat. And for hiking, Tenerife, Crete and Portugal all have cracking trail networks. All of them have the sunshine to make it feel like a proper holiday while you're at it.

Specialist activity operators are great at organising your tee times, bike tours or dive courses. What they're not great at is giving you cheap flights and hotels, naturally, you're going to pay a premium for them to do that extra organising for you. And that's fair enough, but if you already know what you want to do, and you want to do it on a budget, that's where we come in.

On the Beach packages your flights, accommodation and transfers at prices that specialist operators can't touch, with ATOL protection, low deposits and flexible payment plans built in. You're perfectly capable of booking a round of golf or hiring a bike when you get there (it's not exactly brain surgery), so why pay a premium for someone to do it for you? We sort the expensive bit, you sort the fun bit.

Absolutely, and that's sort of the whole point. Active holidays aren't boot camps. You might spend the morning on a coastal hike or a round of golf, then spend the afternoon doing precisely nothing by the pool. Most of the hotels we feature for active holidays are in resort areas with beaches, restaurants and all the usual holiday stuff, so you can switch between adventure mode and relaxation mode as the mood takes you.