GETTING paid to travel the world is the ultimate dream job – and one Brit who gets to do just that has revealed her top bargain sun spots to escape to on a budget.
Having visited more than 20 TUI hotels and resorts, Lucy Langtry has travelled all over the world for the past four years for the company as a public relations manager.
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And as a result she knows the best sunny spots with cheap deals.
She said: “Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia have impressed me most for overall value.”
Though, for a closer-to-home great value destination she recommends visiting the Albanian Alps, where “the scenery felt pristine and there were hardly any crowds”.
One particular spot she recommends is the village of Theth, where temperatures reach up to 20C in October.
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She said: “There were hardly any crowds – it felt like discovering a part of Europe that not everyone had caught on to yet.”
The small mountain village in Northern Albania is surrounded by rugged and dramatic peaks.
In the village you will find traditional stone houses as well as amazing hiking routes that include waterfalls.
TUI has loads of accommodation options in the capital, Tirana, which makes a great base for exploring both the north and south of the country.
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And packages could cost you as little as £173 per person for three nights in October, including flights and accommodation.
If you want to head slightly further afield, then Lucy recommends travelling to Morocco – where temperatures reach up to 20C in December.
She said: “Morocco is such a strong one for value, especially TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens [in Marrakech] which feels like a little oasis.
“It is so calm and relaxing, with that proper switch-off feel that makes you forget you are only a short flight from home, and you can spend your days exploring the colourful souks right on your doorstep.”
A three night stay at TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens costs from £335 per person in December including flights and accommodation.
But there are other packages available if you want to spend less, including three nights at the Moroccan House Marrakech in December from £216 per person.
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Or in Egypt, Lucy recommends visiting TUI BLUE Crystal Bay in Hurghada, Egypt, where temperatures reach 35C in September.
“Egypt has become the destination I recommend more than anywhere else, and TUI BLUE Crystal Bay captures everything I love about it.
“The hotel has a beautiful setting on the Red Sea, lovely pools, incredible service and a relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel like you are on holiday as soon as you arrive.
“It is the sort of hotel where you can spend the morning relaxing beside the water, have a long lunch and then head out into the desert for a completely different experience,” she said.
You could stay at the hotel in December for six nights including flights for £810 per person.
Or for a cheaper option you could head to Palm Inn Hotel also in Hurghada for seven nights in September, with flights and accommodation included, from £400 per person.
She added that while in Hurghada you can head on a TUI Musement excursion into the desert and watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.
She revealed: “It felt like another world. One moment you are enjoying a beautiful beach and a lovely hotel, then you are surrounded by this incredible desert landscape watching the whole sky change colour.”
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Off Hurghada, you can also travel to Mahya Island, on a TUI Musement experience, where you will see clear water that “rivals photographs of the Maldives”.
For a hidden gem, she suggests heading to Jaz Elite Amara in Marsa Alam.
She said: “Marsa Alam is one of my favourite places in Egypt because it still feels less discovered than some of the better known resorts.
“The Red Sea is unbelievably clear and the marine life is incredible.”
Off the island you can head snorkelling with dugongs, also known as sea cows, as well as turtles.
You’ll get beautiful beaches ideal for a relaxing too.
She added: “It is perfect for anyone who wants a quieter side of the Red Sea, with incredible snorkelling right on their doorstep.”
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Her final recommendation is Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort in Tunisia costing from £436 for a six-night break in October, which Lucy commented is great for families.
She said: “The kids’ club was amazing. There was so much for children to do and the team brought such brilliant energy.
“You could see how excited the children were to go back each day, which I imagine is music to any parent’s ears.”
She added that the whole resort felt designed to make family holidays easy, with activities, entertainment and spaces where different ages could have fun.
She continued: “Tunisia itself really surprised me too.
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“The beaches were beautiful, the people were incredibly friendly and the overall experience offered fantastic value.
“It is somewhere I would happily recommend to families who want plenty to do without spending a fortune.”