If you’re already dreaming about next year’s summer holiday but feeling stuck for inspiration, look no further — we’ve got you covered.
Jet2 has just announced packages for three new destinations in summer 2026, including the ‘unspoiled’ Greek island of Meganisi.
Often referred to as Greece’s ‘best kept secret’ (even by Greeks), this small Ionian island is packed with authentic charm as it’s barely been touched by tourism.
Adrift between Lefkada – known as the ‘Greek Caribbean’ – and the mainland, Meganisi boasts the best of Greece’s natural landscape.
It has a fjord-like coastline, dozens of secluded beaches and hidden coves, traditional stone villages, and waters so clear they seem otherworldly.
In other words, it’s the Greece of dreams.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Spanning just 22.4 sq km, the island has only three villages and a population of around 1,000 residents.
It’s regarded as one of the best spots for sailing, swimming, and snorkelling in the region, and it even has a link to the stars.
Meganisi sits next to Skorpios — the legendary private retreat of the Onassis family.
There’s no airport on the island, so you’ll get there by flying into Aktion Airport in Preveza, near Lefkada, then driving about an hour to Nidri and hopping on the ferry.
As well as Jet2, British Airways, Ryanair, and other major carriers operate direct flights from the UK during the summer months.
If you’re looking for serenity, this is the place for you.
But if that doesn’t take your fancy, Jet2 is launching deals to other places that make for equally stunning getaways: one in Italy, and another in Greece.
If you’re craving pizza and an endless supply of Aperol Spritz, look no further than the Italian city of Palermo.
The Sicilian capital offers incredible food and magnificent architecture, plus plenty of opportunities for day trips to some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Our favourite is Cefalu, a pretty seaside town just an hour’s drive along the coast.
Throw in a Vespa and you’ll be living your best Lizzie McGuire life.
If nature and ancient history are more your thing, consider the Olympus Riviera, one of the most visually stunning spots in Greece.
Sitting at the foot of Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the gods, it’s tailor-made for go-slow getaways, with long sandy beaches, seaside tavernas serving net-fresh seafood and sunsets that seem to last forever.
There are hiking trails, centuries-old ruins and traditional towns where you can pass the hours eating souvlaki washed down with ouzo.
Elsewhere, Jet2 will also expand its offering in Kefalonia, the sixth-largest island in Greece, which remains a firm favorite with British tourists.
Starting on May 2, 2026, Jet2 and Jet2holidays will operate flights to Kefalonia from the following UK airports:
- Manchester Airport
- London Stansted Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- East Midlands Airport
- Glasgow Airport
- Leeds Bradford Airport
- Newcastle International Airport.
Other new routes coming in 2026
Jet2 isn’t the only low-cost carrier expanding its offerings for 2026.
Last month, we reported that easyJet has made holiday plans easier for travellers in the north east with the launch of 11 new flights from Newcastle Airport – and they’re arriving sooner than expected.
Now available to book from March 22, 2026, instead of the original summer launch, the budget airline has expanded its routes from Newcastle, which was recently named one of the best airports in Europe.
Alongside the current eight routes already on offer, new destinations ready and waiting to be booked for Easter and beyond include:
- Malta
- Rhodes, Greece
- Corfu, Greece
- Faro, Portugal
- Reus, Spain
- Tunisia
- Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
- Dalaman, Turkey
- Antalya, Turkey
- Prague, Czechia
- Nice, France.
When the new routes were originally announced in June 2025, the low-cost airline said flights would be available from next summer.
Easyjet has since told Metro that they were put on sale earlier to offer more choice for customers travelling during the Easter period.
Flights to the new routes are now available to book at easyJet.com and via the mobile app – some of which are cheaper than UK train fares.
For example, on April 28, a one-way flight to Nice on April 14 is just £33. Alternatively, flying to Antalya in Turkey on March 22 is £87.
Our favourite lesser-known destinations to explore in 2026
- The ‘forgotten’ Spanish towns crying out for visitors
- I visited the ‘Santorini of Tunisia’ with cool coffee shops, local art and flights from £76
- The underrated Irish city that’s a ‘mini-Dublin’ with better Guinness
- The ‘Oxford of Belgium’ is a lesser-known European city break with £34 flights
- The Swiss lake town that’s Como without the crowds
