Cheap holiday destinations

Cheap holidays in 2012 Cheap holiday destinations

By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays

It’s not easy budgeting for a holiday these days. We all seem to be working harder than ever and feel the need to get away for a relaxing break – but finding the money can be difficult.

So where are the cheap holiday destinations? And how can you save money to ensure you have a great break this year?

Here, we present some suggestions for cheap holidays in 2012 – and some slightly pricier options that we consider to be great value.

Cheap holidays in Europe

Crossing the Channel can be one of the best deals. You can stay on some of the most beautiful stretches of French coastline in a holiday parc with a choice of mobile homes, lodges and apartments plus loads of activities and facilities to keep children amused. We recommend Siblu holiday parcs.

Alternatively head across to Camping Duinrell just 30 miles from the car ferry at Hook of Holland. It boasts indoor and outdoor swimming pools, rowing, scuba diving, pedalos, crazy golf, volleyball and a climbing wall. There is a water park next door and a beach nearby. Find more bargain camping holidays in Europe.

Other lesser-known European destinations include Slovenia which has beautiful mountain scenery and some fabulous places to stay including Hiša Franko.

On the French Atlantic island of Ile de Ré you can find some great-value apartments. This is a great budget choice, offering superb beaches, a long summer season and great cycling across flat paths that criss-cross the island.

Spain is not amongst the cheapest holiday destination but you can find some very good villas in Catalonia at reasonable prices, and you can save even more by driving, rather than flying.

If you travel a little out of season – avoiding the school holidays – you can get surprisingly good deals at upmarket Mediterranean beach clubs. We recommend Sunsail which has these special offers (quote ‘101HL’ when you book), and Mark Warner which also has excellent special offers.

Croatia is good value in the Med and every bit as stylish as the Greece or the Balaerics. The island of Hvar is a stunner and only a short hop by ferry from Split. Check out these stylish budget hotels on Hvar.

Another tactic is to avoid the crowded beaches of the Med and head instead to the mountains where the climate is wonderful yet it’s low season. Many of the hotels and chalets are great value. Try these lakes and mountains holidays or these family holidays in the Alps.

In the winter, you can also get great deals on family ski holidays providing you avoid the school holidays. See the latest special offers.

If you’re travelling alone you can save money on single supplements by booking with a specialist such as Solo’s Holidays. If you want to avoid airports, how about a coach tour – it’s a great to see a lot of destinations in one trip and meet new people. Or take a short break by rail to an exciting city such as Paris, Brussels, Bruges or Amsterdam.

If you’re stuck to school holidays, try searching for cheap holidays in July 2012 or cheap holidays in August 2012.

Cheap UK holidays

In Dorset, we have found a great collection of B&Bs offering excellent quality and low prices. Check out Countryside & Coastal B&Bs.

A boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads is not expensive and can be a great way for a family or group of friends to spend time together while enjoying the gentle countryside of East Anglia. Find more boating holidays across the UK.

The Isle of Wight is often overlooked, but it has a great diversity of sights, beaches and great-value places to stay, ideal for families. See the latest special offers.

As you are saving on airfares, you can splash out a little on accommodation, perhaps rent a cottage in the Cotswolds or a cottage in Devon. In Cornwall we recommend Sands Resort which is great for families. For self-catering properties, we also recommend cottages4you, which has great deals all year round.

It’s hard to beat camping for value. You could stay at one of Haven’s 35 holiday parks, which have caravan holiday homes, and spacious chalets. Children love these working farm holidays in the West Country, which are also great value. PGL has activity holidays for families in the UK and France.

Get away from it all in a gorgeous log cabin in a secluded forest in England. You can explore the countryside, hiking, canoeing and mountain biking in stunning locations such as the Forest of Dean, Deerpark Holiday Park in Cornwall and the North York Moors.

On the edge of the Brecon Beacons in Wales, we love Fronlas, a delightful small and stylish B&B in the lovely town of Llandeilo. The rooms are individually decorated and there is hiking and biking on your doorstep. For stylish self-catering cottages in Wales, we recommend Sheepskin.

Cheap winter sun

If you want to get away for some winter sunshine you need to think carefully about your destination and how far you need to fly. Generally, the longer the journey, the more expensive the price of the holiday. However, some long-haul destinations have low prices on the ground, so if you stay for longer you are effectively saving.

If you just want cheap sun on a one-week or two-week package, we recommend Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, a five-hour flight from the UK. Tunisia also has great beaches, delicious food and good-value hotels, though it can get a bit chilly in the midwinter months. It’s better in October or March than December or January.

The Canary Islands are popular choices and with good reason. The flight is 4-5 hours but the climate is excellent. Tenerife has a great variety of destinations from lively package resorts to charming country hotels. For nature lovers, we suggest La Palma, for walking, culture and quiet beaches.

We also recommend The Gambia on the west coast of Africa – six hour flying time from the UK, with excellent beaches, friendly hotels and plenty of excursions on your doorstep. The Cape Verde islands are also great value.

North Cyprus is a great destination for cheap holidays because it’s outside the Eurozone – it uses the Turkish lira. Prices on the ground are remarkably low and you’ll find some great special offers. In the rest of Cyprus we recommend Planet Holidays.

The Aegean coast of Turkey has a very long season, as does Malta. A little further afield, Egypt has superb winter weather.

We also recommend Marrakech, which combines great weather with cultural treasures and fascinating street life. Alternatively, head for the south of France, which we love out of season.

Long haul options include the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya where you’ll find great-value hotels on the beaches near Mombasa. Thailand is excellent value and it’s possibly to get by without spending too much.