Is Turkey or Spain cheaper for an all-inclusive holiday?

Turkey is generally cheaper for a large-scale all-inclusive resort holiday, mainly because all-inclusive resorts are far more common and larger in scale there. Spain has all-inclusive options too, particularly in the Canary Islands, but B&B, half-board and self-catering are more typical on the Spanish mainland.

Will UK travellers need a visa for Spain after 2026?

Not a traditional visa — but from late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20, valid three years) to enter Spain and the rest of the Schengen Area. It's applied for online before travel and isn't required for Turkey, which sits outside Schengen.

Do UK citizens need a visa for Turkey?

No — UK passport holders can currently enter Turkey for tourism for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa or e-visa, as long as their passport has at least 150 days' validity remaining from the date of entry.

Which has the shorter flight, Turkey or Spain?

Spain, by a clear margin. Flights to Spain's mainland coast are typically around 2.5 to 3 hours from the UK, while Turkey's southern resorts (Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum) are typically around 4 to 4.5 hours.

Is Turkey or Spain better for families?

Turkey tends to offer bigger resort facilities and more all-inclusive value, which suits families wanting everything covered upfront. Spain tends to offer shorter flights and more accommodation flexibility, which suits families prioritising travel time or wanting a villa or apartment rather than a hotel.

Turkey vs Spain: which is better value?

Last updated: 2026-06-17

Turkey is better for

All-inclusive resort value, especially around Antalya, Side and Lara Beach
Family hotel facilities — waterparks, kids' clubs and larger room/suite setups are common at big resorts
A longer hot summer season, broadly May to October
Travellers who want most of the holiday cost settled before they fly
Currency value — the Turkish lira has weakened significantly against the pound in recent years, though high domestic inflation in Turkey has clawed some of that back

Spain is better for

Flight time — typically around 2.5 to 3 hours to the Spanish mainland coast, against roughly 4 to 4.5 hours to Turkey's southern resorts
Short breaks and last-minute trips, given the shorter flight and wide route choice from UK airports
Variety of board basis and self-catering options, including villas and apartments alongside hotels
City-break flexibility — pairing a beach stay with Barcelona, Seville or Madrid is far easier than from most Turkish resort airports
Familiarity — widely used infrastructure, English widely spoken in resort areas, and no need to think about visas for short stays (though see the ETIAS note below)

Which is better for families?

Turkey tends to win on raw resort facilities for families: bigger all-inclusive complexes, more waterparks, and food and drinks already covered in the price, which matters when you're holidaying with children. Spain tends to win on flexibility and shorter travel time, which matters more with very young children or if you're trying to keep total trip length down to a long weekend or a single week. Families on a tight all-inclusive budget often lean Turkey; families wanting more flexibility around accommodation type and trip length often lean Spain.

The visa and entry-rules angle most comparisons miss

Spain is part of the Schengen Area. From late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20, applied for online before travel, valid for three years) to enter Spain and the rest of Schengen. Turkey is not in the Schengen Area, and as things stand, UK passport holders can enter Turkey for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa or e-visa, provided your passport has at least 150 days' validity remaining. In practical terms, once ETIAS is live, a short Turkey trip may genuinely involve less pre-travel admin than a short Spain trip — a reversal of how this comparison has traditionally been framed.

Side-by-side comparison

Factor	Turkey	Spain
All-inclusive	Very common at large resorts	Less common — often B&B, half-board or self-catering
Best season	May to October	April to October, with the Canaries year-round
Flight time from UK	Around 4–4.5 hours	Around 2.5–3 hours to the mainland coast
Visa / entry from late 2026	No visa needed for stays up to 90 days	ETIAS required (around €20) once it launches
Currency dynamic	Historically weak lira, though local inflation offsets some of the gain	Euro — stable, but generally a higher baseline cost than Turkey
Family appeal	Large resorts, waterparks, all-inclusive value	Shorter flight, villas and apartments, easier multi-trip flexibility

DealStays verdict

Choose Spain if flight time, short-break flexibility or pairing a beach stay with a city visit matters more to you than having everything pre-paid. Choose Turkey if you want a longer, hotter summer season and an all-inclusive resort that does the financial thinking for you before you even land. Once ETIAS launches, it's also worth weighing the entry-admin side of this decision, not just price and flight time.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Turkey or Spain cheaper for an all-inclusive holiday?: Turkey is generally cheaper for a large-scale all-inclusive resort holiday, mainly because all-inclusive resorts are far more common and larger in scale there. Spain has all-inclusive options too, particularly in the Canary Islands, but B&B, half-board and self-catering are more typical on the Spanish mainland.
Will UK travellers need a visa for Spain after 2026?: Not a traditional visa — but from late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20, valid three years) to enter Spain and the rest of the Schengen Area. It's applied for online before travel and isn't required for Turkey, which sits outside Schengen.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Turkey?: No — UK passport holders can currently enter Turkey for tourism for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa or e-visa, as long as their passport has at least 150 days' validity remaining from the date of entry.
Which has the shorter flight, Turkey or Spain?: Spain, by a clear margin. Flights to Spain's mainland coast are typically around 2.5 to 3 hours from the UK, while Turkey's southern resorts (Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum) are typically around 4 to 4.5 hours.
Is Turkey or Spain better for families?: Turkey tends to offer bigger resort facilities and more all-inclusive value, which suits families wanting everything covered upfront. Spain tends to offer shorter flights and more accommodation flexibility, which suits families prioritising travel time or wanting a villa or apartment rather than a hotel.