The short version is this: if you have not booked yet and your main goal is value, Europe is still the easiest part of the market to make work for summer 2026. Asia can still be sensible for the right trip, but weather and flight length complicate the value equation in July and August. North America remains attractive if Orlando or a big city break is the dream, but it is the part of the market most likely to feel painful if fuel pressure and peak-school-holiday pricing keep colliding.
Why oil prices matter more than usual right now
The Iran war has pushed oil back into the foreground for holiday pricing. Reuters reporting carried by Investing.com showed analysts raising 2026 Brent forecasts as the conflict disrupted Strait of Hormuz flows, while March 2026 ended with Brent around the low-$110s per barrel after an exceptionally sharp monthly surge. That does not automatically mean every summer holiday will jump overnight, because many airlines and tour operators hedge fuel and package prices are set in advance. But it does increase the risk that late availability gets tighter and long-haul prices stay sticky.
In practical terms, the more flying hours your family holiday needs, the less room there is for a last-minute bargain if energy markets stay stressed. That is one reason Europe and Turkey still look better-positioned than the United States for value-focused summer bookings from the UK.
Rough family-of-four price snapshot for July or August 2026
The table below combines current UK holiday-provider signals with a peak-summer adjustment. TUI family listings currently show spring and early-summer 2026 examples such as Majorca from about £377 to £721 per person, Crete from about £589 to £903 per person, Antalya-area options from about £595 to £730 per person, and Orlando room-only family properties from roughly £870 to £1,092 per person. Jet2holidays is heavily promoting Europe and Turkey for summer 2026 family bookings, while British Airways Holidays is still surfacing Florida and Crete among its summer categories.
| Destination | Region | Rough family total | Value view |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (Majorca / Costa areas) | Europe | £2,200 to £3,200 | Usually the easiest late-booking value for beach holidays |
| Greece (Crete / Rhodes style trip) | Europe | £2,600 to £3,800 | Still competitive, but stronger hotels move up quickly in school holidays |
| Turkey (Antalya area) | Europe edge / eastern Med | £2,400 to £3,500 | Often one of the best all inclusive value options |
| Thailand | Asia | £4,600 to £6,400 | Can work on price, but weather compromises matter in July and August |
| USA (Florida / Orlando) | North America | £4,800 to £7,200 | Most expensive mainstream family option in this comparison |
Visual comparison
Midpoint estimates shown above. These are indicative family-of-four totals, not live bookable fares.
Should you fly to Europe?
If you want the best chance of finding a decent family holiday without spending weeks searching, Europe remains the strongest answer. It gives you shorter flying time, a bigger choice of UK departure airports, more package competition and less exposure to oil-driven long-haul price shocks. Spain, Greece and Turkey also remain heavily promoted by UK holiday providers, which usually helps keep more of the market price-competitive than long-haul alternatives.
Europe also works better if you are still flexible on exact resort, board basis or departure airport. That flexibility is often the difference between a manageable deal and a frustratingly expensive one.
Should you fly to Asia?
Asia is the most nuanced answer. On pure airfare and package cost, it can sometimes look better than families expect, especially compared with the United States. But July and August are not ideal weather months for some of the most obvious family destinations, and a longer flight means the fuel-risk story still matters. If you are choosing Asia, it usually makes more sense when the destination itself is the priority and you accept that weather, flight time and recovery days are part of the trade-off.
Should you fly to North America?
North America is still the easiest region to overspend on if you have not booked yet. Florida remains a hugely attractive family holiday, and TUI is clearly still selling it hard for 2026, but it is also a market where school-holiday demand, long-haul fuel exposure and hotel costs can all stack up together. If your summer 2026 budget is tight, North America is usually the region that needs the clearest reason to win.
My view on where the best late value sits
For most UK families still shopping for July or August 2026, the value ranking looks like this:
- Best overall value: Spain, Greece and Turkey
- Best if destination matters more than weather certainty: parts of Asia
- Most expensive mainstream option: North America, especially Florida
That does not mean Europe will be cheap. It means Europe still offers the best balance of price, flight time, supply and flexibility while oil-risk is elevated.
Sources checked for this article
- TUI family holidays to Majorca
- TUI family holidays to Crete
- TUI family holidays to Antalya area
- TUI family holidays to Florida
- Jet2holidays summer 2026 family holidays
- British Airways Holidays summer holidays 2026
- Reuters factbox via Investing.com on oil forecasts during the Iran conflict
- The Guardian on the March 2026 oil-price surge
Use aviaroute to keep your flights, hotel plans, documents, timings and trip ideas together in one place while you compare options and watch prices.
Open aviaroute