There was a time when you had to save for years in order to pay for a long-haul flight. Often thousands of pounds, these journeys would be so out of reach it was highly likely that you'd never be able to visit all the far-flung destinations you dreamed of visiting. But now, thanks to the rise of budget airlines going long-haul, you can take trips to the most exotic, far away destinations for a bargain. Here are some of the best long-haul flights you can take without blowing the budget...

The Caribbean isn’t known for being cheap, but with Thomson, you can get return flights to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba from Manchester Airport from just £269 per person. While you’re there, make sure you visit Baby Beach for a truly tranquil desert island atmosphere, warm shallow water and soft white sand. Animal lovers should also head for Renaissance Island, where you can see flamingos casually strolling around the beach and into the water.

Considering that flights from London to Calgary take about nine hours, you’d be forgiven for imagining they’d be pricey. With WestJet, however, you can fly from London Gatwick to Calgary from just £233. Once you land, immerse yourself in Canada’s knockout scenery. The jaw-dropping Banff National Park, with turquoise Lake Louise and beautiful Emerald Lake, is just a short drive away, and will make you forget all about the long plane journey in no time.

You can fly direct to the Big Apple from London Gatwick for just £149 with Norwegian, so you can save the money you’d have spent on a more expensive flight to enjoy all the city has to offer. And there’s plenty to spend your cash on, from taking in some of the world’s most extravagant musicals on Broadway, to indulging in retail therapy in world-famous stores like Bloomingdale’s. For totally free activities, take a stroll in Central Park or visit the High Line, New York’s “park in the sky".

Reach the exciting capital of Colorado year-round for just £179 one-way with Norwegian from London Gatwick. You can venture into the Rocky Mountains for skiing, hiking and climbing, or stay in Denver for city-based adventures. Make time for the Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, a one-of-a-kind outdoor concert venue surrounded by giant, ancient rock formations at which legends such as the Beatles and U2 have performed.

It’s one of Thailand’s most popular islands, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get to gorgeous Phuket, with Thomson offering return flights from Birmingham from £435 per person. There’s something for everyone on the enormous island, from the bars, clubs and noise of Patong for party animals, to the luxury resorts popular with honeymooners and families. Don’t miss the enormous Big Buddha marble statue, almost 150-feet-high, from which you can enjoy spectacular views of the island.

If you fancy a multi-stop holiday taking in two very different cities, fly with WOW air from London Gatwick to Toronto, via Reykjavík, from just £140 one-way. Once you’ve enjoyed Viking museums, volcano tours and thermal pools in Iceland’s capital, it’s Toronto time. Ride up the glass elevator of the distinctive CN Tower for great views of the city, and if you’re feeling daring, try out the hair-raising EdgeWalk, where you can take a 20 minute walk around the perimeter of the building – outside.

Norwegian’s budget route to Singapore is excellent value, with one-way fares from Gatwick starting from just £149. When you’ve dusted yourself off from the long flight, enjoy Singapore’s famous Gardens by the Bay (pictured), a 101-hectare garden with a difference. The incredible horticultural displays are even better at night, coming alive with an electrifying light and sound show.

It costs as little as £135 to fly to Miami one-way from London Gatwick via Reykjavík with WOW air, and once there, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do. If you love the water, you can scuba dive or snorkel and not only see colourful marine life, but also several shipwrecks and natural coral reefs. On land, you’re in retail heaven, with endless malls, open air shopping areas and quirky districts full of vintage, one-off boutiques.

South America can be one of the most pricey places to fly to from the UK, but from next year, thanks to Norwegian, you’ll be able to get to Argentina’s capital direct for just £279 one-way from London Gatwick. The cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires has plenty to offer visitors: visit the colourful, open-air museum of El Caminito to take in local artworks and tango dancing displays, and admire the grand Palacio del Congreso, seat of the Argentine National Congress, where free tours are available.

Keen to visit Boston for a bargain? There are plenty of options, with Norwegian flying direct from London Gatwick from £129 one-way, and WOW air flying via Reykjavík from Gatwick from £140 one-way. When you arrive, spend those saved dollars at the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which has been a meeting hall and marketplace since the 18th century, and is now a bustling mall filled with shops, restaurants and even a museum.

Get to the Windy City affordably with WOW air from London Gatwick via Reykjavík from £140 one-way. When you land, head straight for the Magnificent Mile where you can stroll past high-end shops, trendy restaurants and swanky hotels, and take in numerous Chicago landmarks, including the Wrigley Building skyscraper and the John Hancock Center with its rooftop observation deck.

Team your trip to Texas with a stop in Iceland: WOW air offers flights from London Gatwick via Reykjavík from £150 one-way. Once you’re in Dallas, stop by Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum to learn more about the site where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. For a more lighthearted excursion, the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is worth a visit for gorgeous gardens, seasonal festivals and regular events.

It might be pricey when you get there, but flying to Dubai is cheaper than ever thanks to Air France, which offers flights via Paris from £270. It’s lucky you’ll have saved money on your flight, because you’ll need it for all there is to do in this energetic city. Stare out at the bright lights from the observation deck of the 160-storey Burj Khalifa, check out what 7-star luxury really means at the Burj Al Arab, and shop, skate and enjoy the vivid aquarium and underwater zoo at the Dubai Mall.

If you fancy visiting the beautiful beach city of Fort Lauderdale, you can get there for a steal: from just £149 one-way, direct from London Gatwick with Norwegian. On the ground, hit the shops on Las Olas Boulevard, where you can not only enjoy browsing over 120 boutiques, retail shops and art galleries, but also spend time in a number of restaurants, clubs and bars. And, of course, there's plenty of sand to enjoy on the seafront.

Fly to the exciting city of Montreal inexpensively direct from London Gatwick via Reykjavík, one-way with WOW air from £140. If you can time your visit for a winter break, make sure you stop by the popular Fête des Neiges event. Fun for the whole family, this winter festival is all about enjoying the great outdoors in the snow, with activities including husky sledding, ice skating, zip lining and snow tubing, all in picturesque surroundings with plenty of snowmen and ice sculptures.

If you’ve dreamed of going on safari but been put off by the high cost, book a flight to Accra, Ghana, with KLM (via Amsterdam) from just £378 return. You’ll then be able to hop on board a short flight to Mole National Park, Ghana’s largest, where you can spot wildlife such as elephants, warthogs, buffalo and baboons happily roaming around in their natural habitat. It’s not just the flight you’ll save on either, with the park known for being much cheaper than many other African safari options.

Providence is just one of the many destinations serviced by several regional UK airports, including Edinburgh and Belfast. Fly direct one-way with Norwegian from £124, and spend some time exploring the Touro Synagogue, America’s oldest surviving synagogue, built in 1763 in Newport. Walking tours are available, and there are also exhibits explaining the history of the Jews in Rhode Island.

There’s so much to see in San Francisco, so save your cash for sightseeing and take a wallet-friendly flight to the city direct from London Gatwick with Norwegian from £149 one-way. If you haven’t got long to spend in the city, head straight for the city’s most famous sight, the Golden Gate Bridge. You can take a guided tour, bike or walk across for incredible views of San Francisco, and there’s a Welcome Center detailing the history, engineering and science behind the iconic bridge.

For a far away break that won’t break the bank, head to Muscat, Oman’s capital. You can get there cheaply with KLM via Amsterdam from just £249. See sensationally constructed mosques and palaces of epic proportions, enjoy delicious plates of seafood in one of the many bars or restaurants, and even spot dolphins on boat tours around the Gulf of Oman.

Another popular city break option, Seattle can be reached with Norwegian direct from London Gatwick from £179 one-way. Head to the Museum of Pop Culture for a vivid journey through the history television and popular music. Exhibits include a photographic David Bowie display, an immersive exhibition presenting the Star Trek phenomenon and its impact, and a display bringing fantasy to life, with famous props and costumes from some of the most-loved TV series and films on show.

Who knew you could get to the Caribbean so cheaply? With Thomson, you can bag return flights to Montego Bay in Jamaica from just £270 per person departing from London Stansted. There are blissful beaches and a plethora of seaside resorts to kick back at. Visit a Georgian mansion for a spot of spooky history at Rose Hall Great House, or take a quad bike safari to explore the surrounding countryside.

You don’t need to pay presidential prices to get to the capital of the USA: with WOW air, you can get to Washington, DC via Reykjavík from £140 one-way. Considering taking a walking tour or a bus tour to explore the main sights, including the White House, the Capitol Building, the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. 

Visiting Asia doesn’t have to cost the Earth: Vietnam Airlines offers direct return flights to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City from London Heathrow starting from £481. In Hanoi, simply crossing the streets is entertainment in itself: every step into the road is a gamble for your life as you dodge zooming motorbikes, often four people to a seat. Enjoy roadside beers in one of the many "bia hơi" street-side bars and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to see one of the country's most famous leader embalmed.

It’s on many travellers’ bucket lists, and getting to Los Angeles has never been so easy. Fly via Reykjavík with WOW air from London Gatwick from £150 one-way. Snap pictures of iconic Hollywood Sign and take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, then head to one of the many museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art or the enormous Petersen Automotive Museum, dedicated to all things automobiles.

Dreaming of an island getaway? You can get to St Lucia and back with Thomson from London Gatwick from just £310 per person. There are beaches galore here, but you should also enjoy the St Lucia Botanical Gardens. Don’t miss the majestic Diamond Waterfall, coloured by a variety of minerals, as well as the nearby mineral baths, which are said to have medicinal qualities.

Save your money for the theme park entrance fees and get to Orlando for a steal with Thomson, which offers return flights from Birmingham from just £284. From Walt Disney World and Epcot to Magic Kingdom and Universal Orlando, you could spend your entire trip just riding rollercoasters. But believe it or not, Orlando’s not all about theme parks: there are great museums to be enjoyed too, including the Orlando Museum of Art, which has a huge variety of interesting exhibitions. Just a two hour drive south of Orlando is Sarasota, with brilliant beaches and the biggest state park in Florida.

If you don’t mind travelling to Barcelona to get on a connecting bargain flight, you can get to the gorgeous Punta Cana with LEVEL from €220 (£195) one-way. The easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic is a paradise when it comes to all things beaches, with snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, luxury resorts and golf courses all on the menu. With this kind of scenery, relaxation is the name of the game, but for more active visitors there’s also Jeep safaris, horse riding and zip lining.