The best-value beach breaks in Europe this summer

Telegraph

03-05-2025

Summer holiday season is on the horizon, so the race is on to find a great-value beach break. But where in Europe will your budget stretch furthest, without compromising too far?
We've crunched the numbers, so you don't have to. In the hunt for the ultimate bargain, I've compared the cost of 30 of the continent's go-to coastal getaways – whether for independently booked trips, or package holidays arranged through an agent.
In this guide:
Methodology
Europe's best-value beach breaks
Europe's most expensive beach breaks
Choosing flights
Costs on the ground
What about the school summer holidays?
Best-value package holidays for under £2,543 per family
Methodology
When researching the costs of the below holidays, strict parameters were set to keep things fair. All travel dates are from July 5 to 12, 2025, to avoid most school holidays in England and Wales, where term ends in late July. Kids in Scotland, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal are let loose in June. If you can't avoid the crossover weeks when schools are out, skip to What about the school summer holidays?
Skyscanner was used for flight prices, based on direct routes from any London airport (returning to the same one). These are hand-luggage only, so add £20-40 per person if you're bringing a suitcase. While cheaper, 'red-eye' flights can be horrendous – so I filtered outward departures from 10am–4pm, and inward 10am–5.30pm. This wasn't possible in six instances, so I chose the most reasonable times. From these, the lowest fare was selected.
For hotels Booking.com was used, filtering the results to four-star beachfront with a pool, and a review score of at least 8/10. The lowest-price hotel was then selected, based on two adults (no kids) sharing a double room with breakfast included.
It's easy to lower costs by opting for self-catering, or compromising on location or reviews, but for the sake of fairness (and a decent holiday) I adhered to the above criteria. Special offers or discounts were also included – if applicable to all customers.
These prices were researched on 25 April, 10 weeks before the travel dates. As is often the case, the longer you leave it to book, the more prices are likely to rise.
Finally, the search was focused on 30 key coastal areas in Europe's top holiday regions – including Turkey, as almost all travel insurance providers cover it on their Europe-specific policies (check yours before booking, though). While lower-cost European destinations are certainly available, this is about getting great value from go-to locations – not 'making do' with somewhere because it's cheap. You're on holiday, after all.
Europe's best-value beach breaks
Bravo, Spain! It dominates the top 10 best-value holidays, with Lanzarote in second place (£701pp for one week), Galicia in third (£711pp), Tenerife in ninth (£775pp) and Majorca in 10th (£796.50pp).
But the Turkish Riviera is the winner at £576pp – that's £125 cheaper than second-place Lanzarote. Even more impressive, the lowest-cost hotel that fits our search parameters in Antalya is actually all-inclusive. It's heavily reduced by 65 per cent on stays until September 30 – and flights are just £131pp, the fourth cheapest in our survey. Many other hotels in Antalya also offered extraordinary value, with similarly significant discounts.
Why are Spain and Turkey offering such excellent value? In Antalya's case, the reason is twofold: the local tourism industry is booming (in 2024 it welcomed 19.3 million tourists according to Euromonitor, ahead of Dubai and Paris), which drives prices down and booking incentives up. Equally, sterling continues to enjoy a favourable exchange rate against Turkish lira and local operating costs are also low.
Meanwhile, Spain's enduring popularity with UK holidaymakers means that competition between hotels and airlines is ruthless, keeping prices reasonable. On flight fares alone, Spain appears six times in the top 10, with Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, coming in cheapest at £114pp return. And remember, that's with sensible flight timings: no red-eye required.
In Cyprus, Paphos also benefits from high demand and availability alongside a low local cost of living: it's seventh place, at £760pp for a week. Meanwhile, Rhodes balances pricier flights (£232pp) with cheaper accommodation – a week's B&B accommodation in Lindos costs just £1,004 per couple – which evens out to an impressive fifth place (£734pp).
The top ten also highlights how travelling to a slightly lesser-known destination can open up excellent value, without compromising on standards.
Savvy travellers should look to Montenegro's Budva Riviera, which rivals Europe's pricier holiday hotspots (John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie are big fans, apparently), where a week in the sunshine costs just £714pp – fourth place in our rankings.
In Portugal, a week on the rather overlooked west coast in Sesimbra (sixth place, £735pp) is peanuts compared with the popular Algarve (26th place, £1,222.50pp). Not bad for a vast white-sand beach a stone's throw from the Tróia Peninsula – nicknamed 'the Hamptons of Portugal' for its boho-chic vibe and celebrity villa-owners, including Jose Mourinho and George Clooney.
If you prefer self-catering breaks, then you'll want to focus on the lowest-cost flights of our survey. Again, Spain dominates the top 10: after the aforementioned Malaga in first place, Ibiza (£126pp) and Majorca (£127pp) scoop second and third place, closely followed by the Costa Brava (£140pp, sixth), Tenerife (£153pp, seventh) and Lanzarote (£163pp, 10th). Antalya also offers tempting fares: from just £131pp return, in fourth place.
Interestingly for those sans enfants, three of the featured hotels are adults-only (in Ibiza, Tenerife and Croatia's Dalmatian Coast) – a reflection, no doubt, of the higher demand for family-friendly accommodation throughout summer. When searching, I also found that rooms with two single beds are sometimes cheaper than doubles: good news for solo parents, friends and couples who prefer to sleep apart.
Europe's most expensive beach breaks
It's a wooden spoon for France. Not only is Nice the most expensive destination surveyed (£1,674.50pp for a week's holiday – 30th place), but Île de Ré ranks 29th (£1,596.50pp) and Corsica is 27th (£1,277.50pp).
Flights to Corsica are the most expensive of all: at £474pp, they're £228 pricier than the average fare of £246pp – while Nice is just £276pp (£30 over), so you may be able to find better value if you're flexible with your accommodation wish-list.
Don't expect your sterling to stretch far on Sardinia, either: it takes 28th place (£1,451.50pp). Flights to the island are only £27 pricier than the average, but its hotel bill of £2,357 per couple is the third most expensive; a whopping £920 above the average of £1,437.
I expected Bulgaria to feature higher up the table, given that its Black Sea Riviera is quietly renowned for good-value sunny breaks. However, the price of return flights is slightly elevated (£300pp), and accommodation on Albena's long sandy beach costs £1,591 per couple for the week – again, above average. It is worth noting, though, that the cheapest hotel that fits my parameters is actually all-inclusive, so you'll save substantially on meals. Overall, a week in Albena ranks 23rd place for value, at £1,095.50pp – though you might argue that it deserves a higher spot.
Eagle-eyed readers will notice that Fethiye, in 25th place, is just three hour's drive from Antalya – which ranks first for value. A week in Fethiye costs £1,183pp, compared with Antalya's pip-squeak £576pp.
Why so? Quite simply, Fethiye has a more exclusive tourism industry, with fewer hotels and more sought-after beaches (the 'blue lagoon' of nearby Ölüdeniz is the star of most Turkey holiday brochures) – whereas Antalya is a lively resort city, which offers burly discounts on hotels.
Choosing flights
All of the above prices are based on the cheapest available flights from London. It's usually more expensive to fly from regional airports, though not perhaps as much as you might think. For example, Ryanair's Manchester–Lanzarote fares start at £34.
Very occasionally, regional flights can be cheaper. For example, if heading to Paphos from July 5–12, flying from Bristol is £12 cheaper than Gatwick (£183 vs £195).
Costs on the ground
In its Holiday Money Report 2025, the Post Office compares the costs of everyday essentials in key destinations – such as dinner for two, drinks, suncream and insect repellent. So how do its findings compare with our travel and hotel value rankings?
Of 47 places worldwide, the Post Office reports that Portugal's Algarve offers the best value, at £58.95 for its full shopping list. This isn't only cheaper than other European destinations, but also the likes of Bali and Thailand. Very surprising, given that the Algarve ranks just 26th for flights and hotel value in our Europe-focused study.
The Post Office has no data for Antalya, our winning destination, but Lanzarote (in second place) is 13th in its report – with the essentials priced £85.42. The Cote d'Azur's Nice, which ranks most expensive in our comparison, is also the dearest European destination in the Post Office's survey, costing £153.03 for its shopping list.
What about the school summer holidays?
How much pricier is it to travel in the middle of the UK's school summer holidays? I repeated the above flight searches (for two adults), but shifted the dates to August 9–16 – slap-bang in the school recess. Then, I compared the prices for our top 10 value hotel winners.
Ouch. Travelling in the school holidays increases prices by as much as 60.7 per cent, with top-value Antalya now priced at £926 per person. It then becomes the third-cheapest of the top 10, pipped only by Budva (£831pp, first place) and Tenerife (£923.50pp, second).
It's worth noting that two of the hotels are unavailable during the school break, suggesting that desirable options are already getting booked up.
Next, I added two kids (aged two and six), to compare prices when travelling as a family during school holidays. To accommodate four people sharing, these prices reflect larger rooms.
Again, under-the-radar Budva offers the lowest price: £2,543 for a family of four.
In this comparison, only four of the top 10 best-value holidays come under £1,000 per person (and remember, one of those people is just two years old). Antalya, our best-value winner so far, now costs £3,690 per family for a week: that's second place, closely followed by Lanzarote in third (£3,896) and Sesimbra in fourth (£3,913).
The best European beach package holidays – for under £2,543 per family
For families, package trips can offer better value than independent bookings: this is because companies have stronger 'buying power' than individuals, so they can offer good discounts. Booking via a reputable agent will also give you ATOL protection, meaning your money will be protected if the provider goes bust, and help is at hand during any travel disruption.
But is it possible to book a week during the school summer holidays, for less than £2,543 per family – the same price as our cheapest independent option? Why yes, it is: here are eight enticing options. Again, this is for two adults and two kids (aged two and six), sharing a B&B hotel room with pool and the beach close-by. All are for seven nights and transfers and baggage are often included too.
Sol Milanos Pinguinos
Menorca, Spain
Sea views over your morning coffee, indoor and outdoor sports facilities for the kids, and a choice of two pools – plus direct access to one of the island's longest sandy beaches. What more do you need? The room in this package includes twin beds and a balcony.
From £2,496 per family (£624pp), travelling August 16 from Glasgow with First Choice (0203 451 2690).
Eftalia Downtown Hotel
Antalya, Turkey
This hotel gets rave reviews for its location, just a few metres from Eftalia Island Beach Club – which features a waterpark, restaurants and watersports (free access for guests). There's a pool onsite too, and all rooms feature balconies.
From £1,821 per family (£456pp), travelling August 15 from Liverpool with On The Beach (0871 474 3000).
Hotel Playas de Torrevieja
Costa Blanca, Spain
While the kids gamble around in the splash playground, you can chill with a sunlounger sangria from the poolside bar. It's far under budget, so expect no-frills family fun – still, the beach is a 10-minute walk away, and your room includes a sea-view balcony.
From £1,636 per family (£409pp), travelling August 9 from Stanstedwith loveholidays (01234 975 975).
Avanti Village
Paphos, Cyprus
This hotel regularly scores five stars on Tripadvisor for its spotless rooms, lagoon-style pool and great location (Pachyammos Beach is five-minutes' walk away). This package features a one-bedroom apartment with a separate living room.
From £2,076 per family (£692pp), travelling August 11 from Glasgow with Holiday Hypermarket (0204 578 0977).
Obzor Beach Resort
Varna, Bulgaria
With a front-row spot on the beach, this resort also features five outdoor pools and sports such as table tennis, darts and volleyball. Apartments have self-catering facilities and balconies, and this package also includes breakfast.
From £2,239 per family (£560pp), travelling August 11 from Luton with On The Beach (0871 474 3000).
Playa Moreia
Majorca, Spain
This bright, modern resort is located in the resort town of Sa Coma, with a large outdoor pool plus adjoining one just for kids. It's just a few sandy steps from the beach, and this rate includes a sea-view apartment with balcony, kitchenette and breakfast included.
From £2,504 per family (£626pp), travelling August 8 from Luton with easyJet Holidays (0330 551 5165).
Bella Vista Sissi
Crete, Greece
The closest beach is a five-minute walk away, and the hotel's pool and bar offer panoramic sea views – best enjoyed with an ouzito sundowner. The apartments are roomy, featuring a separate bedroom and living area, and are surrounded by gardens.
From £2,166 per family (£541pp), travelling August 4 from Gatwick with Hays Travel (0800 408 4048).
Ses Savines Hotel
Ibiza, Spain
Low-rise and white-washed in traditional Ibizan style, this beachfront hotel is one minute's walk from sandy San Antonio Bay. It also has two sea-view pools (one for kids, one for families), and this rate includes one twin room and one single, with transfers.
From £2314.80 per family (£578.70pp), travelling August 4 from Luton with TUI (0203 451 2688).
All prices correct as of April 25, 2025.