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 2013 – and some slightly pricier options that we consider to be great value.
Note: all the travel companies featured are personally recommended by our editors.
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.
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 here.
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 very cheapest holiday destinations but you can find some very good villas in Catalonia at reasonable prices, and you can save even more by driving, rather than flying. We recommend PCI Holidays.
Northern Spain is great value and much less crowded than the south. You’ll find superb wide empty beaches, charming resorts, rugged mountains (you can go white-water rafting and mountain biking) plus great local food and friendly people.
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 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 a lakes and mountains holiday with Inghams or a family holiday in the Alps with Esprit Sun.
In the winter, you can also get great deals on family ski holidays with Esprit Ski 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 Solos Holidays. If you want to avoid airports, how about a short break by rail to an exciting city such as Paris, Brussels, Bruges or Amsterdam.
A guaranteed way to save money is to book accommodation through HostelBookers. It has a selection of 20,000 properties including hostels – many with private rooms – along with cheap hotels, B&Bs, apartments, guesthouses and campsites. It has a lowest-price guarantee and does not apply a service charge or booking fee.
If you’re stuck to school holidays, try searching for very cheap holidays in July 2013 or August 2013.
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 with Waterways Holidays.
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 Devon, East Anglia or in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. In Cornwall we recommend Sands Resort which is great for families.
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 working farm holidays in the West Country (details here), which are also great value. PGL has activity holidays for families in the UK and France.
If you’re prepared to spend a little more on luxury camping, you can rent a tepee, safari tent or bell tent at the gorgeous Trevella Park located near a beach in Cornwall. The park has a heated swimming pool and each tent has comfortable beds, duvets, decking, a fridge and camping stove.
Another way to explore fabulous countryside at sensible prices is by renting a cottage in the Lake District. Details here.
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.
If you can’t leave your dog behind, try one of these pet friendly holiday cottages, or a caravan park especially for families with dogs. Details here.
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.
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.
