From Bratislava to Buenos Aires and even Rhode Island, USA: These are the 10 best no-frills flights

  • For a perfect do-nothing winter break, head to the Portuguese island of Madeira for just £82 one way
  • Or, venture further afield to tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Norwegian for as little as £300
  • In North America, there are also discount flights to Toronto, Ontario and Boston's T.F. Green Airport

Advertisement

No-frills flights from the UK don't just go to sunny Malaga and Palma – there are plenty of places in Europe and further afield that are well worth exploring…

1. CHILL OUT ON A DO-NOTHING WINTER WARMER…

MADEIRA: The Portuguese island is perfect for a do-nothing winter break, especially in the pretty capital, Funchal. 

Panoramic views: Whether you want to hike or simply do nothing, Jet2 offers low-cost fares to Madeira, Portugal

Panoramic views: Whether you want to hike or simply do nothing, Jet2 offers low-cost fares to Madeira, Portugal

However, it's equally suited to those who want to lace up their boots and go hiking in the hills and laurel forests, perhaps following the paths alongside 1,200 miles of levadas (water channels) that have irrigated fields of bananas and sweet potatoes for centuries.

Making a move: Why not learn to tango in Buenos Aires?

Making a move: Why not learn to tango in Buenos Aires?

Get there with Jet2 (Jet2.com) from nine destinations, including Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and East Midlands, from £82 one-way.

2. STEP INTO THE HOME OF THE TANGO

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: Brush off any jet-lag with a tango lesson in a local milonga (dance hall), and eat the best steak of your life at a late-night parilla. 

In the city you can request a free English-speaking guide (through cicerones.org.ar), who might show you the tomb of Eva Peron, or organise tickets to a football match at River Plate or Boca Juniors. 

Get there from Gatwick with Norwegian (norwegian.com/uk) from £299.90 one-way. Flights start next month.

3. WHY NOT TRY A BITE OF TRANSYLVANIA?

SIBIU, ROMANIA: Admit it – you probably hadn't thought of Romania as a spot for a holiday, but Transylvania is gorgeous. 

Prince Charles goes there every summer to paint and walk among the meadows near the village of Viscri. And the town of Sighisoara – birthplace of Vlad the Impaler – is worth a visit, too. 

Get there from Luton with Wizzair (wizzair.com) from £45.99 one-way.

4. SOAR TO CITY OF THE BLUE JAYS

TORONTO: Visit in summer when cafes spill on to pavements and you could rent a canoe to paddle on Lake Ontario. 

Alternatively take in a baseball game with the Blue Jays or strap on a safety harness to walk round the outside of the 1,167ft CN Tower. If you're feeling adventurous, Niagara Falls is a day trip. 

Flights with Primera Air (primeraair.co.uk) start from Stansted in May and from Birmingham in June, and cost from £149.90 one-way.

5. BONEY'S ISLE

FIGARI, CORSICA: BA is launching direct flights to this gateway in the south of Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon. 

Looming large: British Airways offer direct flights to Corisca, where you can visit the hilltop citadel above Bonifacio harbour

Looming large: British Airways offer direct flights to Corisca, where you can visit the hilltop citadel above Bonifacio harbour

Wander the streets of Bonifacio, explore its citadel and walk along the cliffs to the lighthouse. You can also drive to the beach at Palombaggia or hike in the villages, mountains and forests of the Alta Rocca. 

Get there from Heathrow with BA (ba.com) from £102 one-way. Flights start in May.

6. MAKE A SPLASH IN POLAND'S LAKE DISTRICT

OLSZTYN, POLAND: This city is the gateway to the Masurian Lake District in the north east, with more than 2,000 lakes. The area is popular with Polish visitors who come to swim, kayak, sail and fish. 

Get there from Stansted with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £9.99 one-way.

7. A TASTY OFFER YOU REALLY CAN'T REFUSE

PALERMO, SICILY: There's plenty to see around Palermo – beaches, churches, museums, shops – but if you have to narrow down just one reason to visit the home of The Godfather, it's the food. From arancini to granita and a brioscia col gelato (ice-cream sandwich) for breakfast, it's all delicious.

Get there from Luton and Gatwick with easyJet (easyjet.com) from £26.70 one-way. Flights from Liverpool start in July.

8. HAVE A BLAST WITH A VOLCANIC BEAUTY

PONTA DELGARDA, AZORES: This town on Sao Miguel, part of the mid-Atlantic archipelago, is the perfect destination for nature- lovers. Soak in volcanic hot springs at Poca da Dona Beija, linger in the 18th Century Terra Nostra gardens, and go on an ocean tour in the hope of spotting blue, humpback or sperm whales. 

Get there from Stansted with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £37.53 one-way.

Mega-mansions: Norwegian now offers fares from £140 to Boston, which is just 30 minutes away from Newport, Rhode Island

Mega-mansions: Norwegian now offers fares from £140 to Boston, which is just 30 minutes away from Newport, Rhode Island

9. SAIL THE SHORES OF TYCOON COUNTRY

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, USA: Norwegian (norwegian.com) pushes T. F. Green airport as a gateway to Boston. But head south instead, because you're only 30 minutes from the coast at Newport, the summer haunt of Victorian-era industrial barons such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose mega-mansions are now open to the public. Newport is also a major sailing base. 

Get there from Edinburgh, with fares from £140 one-way.

10. DRINK IN THE DELIGHTS OF THE DANUBE

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA: Stroll along the banks of the Danube, enjoy a beer in a cafe or have a night at the opera– tickets at the Slovak National Theatre start at just £7. 

Get to the Slovak capital from Stansted, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £12.99 one-way.