The budget-friendly holiday hotspot UK families are flocking to
A basket of 10 common tourist items in Marmaris costs £128.99, which is nearly half the price of the most expensive destination surveyed, Ibiza.
The low prices are primarily due to a significant fall in the value of the Turkish lira against the pound.
Despite local price increases in Turkey, the favourable exchange rate means British visitors will only pay approximately 10 per cent more than a year ago.
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, and Portugal 's Algarve were ranked as the second and third most affordable destinations for UK holidaymakers.
The cheapest short-haul holiday destination for UK families has been revealed – and its not in Spain
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The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
These are Europe's cheapest places for family holidays this summer – package breaks in stunning locations from £282
NEED a holiday this summer but outrageous prices putting you off? We've crunched the numbers to find the cheapest locations for family holidays across Europe. All-inclusive family package holidays from the UK have jumped in price for some of the most popular destinations among Brits, including Spain, Cyprus and Greece. 5 However, some holiday hotspots in these countries still have some great deals, if you know where to look. TUI, Jet2, Travel Supermarket and Love Holidays all gave us the inside knowledge on their most affordable destinations still on sale for summer 2025. Because where you go in Europe can make a big difference to how much you spend. These are the cheapest destinations in Europe for a holiday this summer 2025 (All package prices are for two adults and two children and include return flights from the UK). Sozopol, Bulgaria Sozopol is a top pick for budget-conscious Brits who want a break in the sun without a big price tag. As well as a beautiful old town dotted with cute and cheap cafes and shops, Sozopol has one of the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria. Our Bulgaria expert, Pavlena Todorova, recommends Central Beach in Sozopol over the more famous Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. This sweeping bay is rich in golden sand and has beautiful, calm blue water that is perfect for swimming. Central Beach, as well as Sozopol itself, is also less busy than the capital Sofia and its popular beaches. Plus, the beach bars and cafes along the sand are slightly cheaper and you'll find it easier to get a table overlooking the sea. Beach Bar, Sparrow, has a shady terrace on the sand and you can get a beer for £2.50 and chicken and chips for £6. Book with: for seven nights bed and breakfast, staying at the 3-star Flagman Hotel, with flights on Jet2 from Birmingham, £399 per person. Kos, Greece Kos has always had a quiet reputation for being one of the lesser crowded, more affordable of the Greek islands. You are spoiled for choice here with brilliant blue waters, sandy beaches and quiet coves, where if you go at the right time of day, you could be the only person on the beach. Rent a small speedboat for £50 a day and explore the harder to reach beaches, or just take it a mile off the shore and spend the day sunbathing or and jumping off the boat into the crystal clear sea to get cool. For dinner, one of the many local restaurants in Kos Town will have you filling your boots with gyros wraps, hummus and chips for only £5. A cold glass of wine to wash it all down is around £4 at most places. Sunsets are free and stunning, especially when viewed from a table on the beach. Paphos, Cyprus 5 Paphos is a top budget destination if you want a mix of sunbathing and sightseeing. The coastline is packed with stunning Blue Flag beaches, and spacious sandy stretches all along the coast. There is a range of hotels in every price range, from 2* self-catering apartments where you can get terrific deals, to luxury villas and 5* star hotels. If you want to spend time exploring, many of Paphos' main attractions are within walking distance of the harbour. Ask if your hotel has a shuttle to get you there, the rest can be explored on foot. This includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, which has some of the Mediterranean's best-preserved mosaics and Paphos Old Town, which mixes ancient buildings and streets with modern additions better than most classic cities. You have to go to Pinguino on the harbour for breakfast. A full English or a huge pile of pancakes is only £5 and we guarantee you won't need lunch that day. Book with: seven nights at the Hilltop Gardens Hotel Apartments self catering, with return flights from London Stansted on Jet2, including 22kg checked baggage per passenger, for £282pp. This deal lands back in the UK on the 4th September, so if you have a few extra inset days at the end of the school holidays, take full advantage! For a similar, mid-holiday package, departing on 25th July and staying at the Marion Apartments, in Paphos, it's £339 with l Heraklion, Greece 5 Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands. In the Heraklion area, you have a choice of different resorts, including Malia, Rethymnon and upmarket Elounda. Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and has an interesting history, including the 16th century Koules fortress on the old Venetian port and the striking fortification walls. The best deals for beach holidays in this area are just outside the city on the north coast. There are a lot of resorts along the coastline, most look out onto the brilliant blue Aegean Sea. The beaches close to Analipsi are the longest and sandiest. The rocky coastline here also makes this a great area for snorkelling. You will find there are lots of boat trips and guides offering tours at affordable prices. Book with: for seven nights self catering at the 3-star Kasapakis Hotel & Apartments and return flights from London Stansted, £339 per person. Lanzarote, Canary Islands Lanzarote is one the best islands in the Canaries for families. You are spoiled for choice with more than 100 beaches, many of which are Blue Flag standard with crystal clear water. Everything is on offer here, from paddleboarding to boat hire, paragliding and of course, paddling and swimming in the calm waters, which are ideal for younger children. Plus, the weather here is almost guaranteed to be sunny and hot almost all year, so those who can travel outside of term time can get an even better deal. The beaches are framed by green hillsides that have hotels and residential homes nestled in cliffs. Deals on hotels from all the major holiday companies are very competitive with packages for as little as £200 per person for a week if you can travel outside of the school holidays. And there are so many beachfront bars and restaurants, if you don't get food with your hotel package, there is no end of offers to get you in. Bottles of beer are £4 on the seafront but only £2 if you pick up a pack in the supermarket. Book with: for seven nights in the 4-star Sands Beach Resort and flights on Thomas Cook from Bournemouth, for £339pp. Tips for booking bargain breaks in summer 2025 Budget-conscious ways to save money booking a holiday this summer Go somewhere different. You may have set your sights on the Costa del Sol but you may find much better deals for lesser-known beach places like Bulgaria and Poland. These destinations have beautiful beaches and low lifestyle costs, with beer as low as £2 a pint. Money talks. To be really clever, choose destinations where the value of the pound is strong. This means more bang for your buck whether you are buying a beer and a sandwich or indulging in a serious shopping spree. This year, the weakest currencies against the GBP include Turkey, Bulgaria and Portugal. Staycation in the UK Staying on British soil means you don't have to navigate the airport or pay extra for baggage, transfers or currency exchange. There are still some excellent deals going on UK holiday parks that have water slides, kids clubs and beaches on the doorstep. These can often work out less than overseas flights alone. See our round up of what holiday parks to book this summer here. Is all-inclusive always best? If you are not a big drinker or eater or have fussy kids in the family, booking an all-inclusive might not be the best option for your group. So many resorts have self-catering packages too. You will get all the perks of the resort facilities, like kids clubs, evening entertainment and pools, but with a small kitchenette to make your own lunch and dinner and save big. Book very early… Some packages, such as with Jet2hoidays and TUI can be booked a year in advance and those willing to commit early can sometimes get some unbelievable discounts. If you know when you want to travel, keep an eye out for prices on the destinations and resorts you want to book. They may go up and down in price throughout the year, depending on whether airlines and companies have a sale on. …or, last minute. Alternatively, booking last minute can mean some fantastic final dash prices. See our list below for the cheapest places to holiday in Europe this summer.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
You be the judge: Should my partner stop obsessively cutting costs when we travel?
Nice accommodation is a big part of a trip, and by cutting corners Cara actually costs us money My girlfriend Cara and I have been together seven years, but we have only travelled together a handful of times as we are both homebodies. But earlier this year, we went on holiday to Greece to visit my family, and it quickly became clear that we aren't travel-compatible. Cara tries to cut corners, but it can end up costing us money. First, she didn't want to pay for hold luggage. We were going away for 12 days and she insisted on squeezing everything into her backpack. She squished all her clothes into these silly packing cubes and I thought: this is insanity. Some of it didn't fit, so she made me pack it in my suitcase. And when we got to the airport, she was asked to pay extra as her backpack didn't fit in the holder by the check-in desk. It was really embarrassing. We are going away again next month, to Barcelona, and Cara has mentioned that she wants us to budget-pack again. I'd rather bring a bigger suitcase and just pay the extra. Last time, because she got charged we lost money that could have gone towards a meal out. If I had my way, I would just share one big case, but Cara is a bit of a control-freak and she likes her stuff to be separate. She is a tidy packer, whereas I am a bit more relaxed and just throw everything in, which she says stresses her out. Cara also prefers to stay at the cheapest places so we can save money for eating out and activities. In Greece we stayed with my family for one week, but we disagreed on which hotel to book for the rest of the trip. Cara wanted to stay in a tiny attic room and go to five star restaurants in the evening, but I wanted to splurge on a nice hotel after being with family. She said comfortable accommodation was unnecessarily flash. In the end I paid most of the hotel bill – I just wanted to relax. But when we go to Barcelona, I think Cara should plan ahead so we aren't at loggerheads over packing and priorities. We don't live together as we like our own space, so our finances are separate. But when we travel we both need to compromise. I'm a budget babe and a foodie. I want to eat at nice places, not waste money on luggage fees and hotels Persephone earns a bit more than me, so of course we have different travel styles. I love travelling with her but she is quite flash, whereas I'm a budget babe. When we went to Greece, she wanted to splash out on a really fancy hotel after staying with her family. I wasn't against that of course, but I just couldn't afford it. Luckily she paid, but I feel it's being held against me now as we plan our Barcelona trip. I'm a food stylist and eating out is my passion. I want to eat at nice places as food is how you get to know a culture. I haven't been to Spain before, so I have a list of places I want to try. But to prioritise nice food, I need to scrimp on accommodation. That makes perfect sense to me as I'm only there to sleep. The rest of the time I want to be out exploring and eating. Persephone isn't a foodie, and disagrees. I also like to keep my packing light to save on ridiculous luggage fees. Because I got fined for having too heavy a backpack last trip, I am now being condemned as an irresponsible traveller. But that was the first time that happened. I paid the extra baggage fee myself, and have since bought holiday scales. I don't want to share Persephone's suitcase because she doesn't pack properly and I find that stressful. I may put all my stuff in one backpack, but it is very well organised. Persephone's packing style is hectic and she doesn't have a separate laundry bag for her unclean clothes, she just throws them all in together. I don't want dirty laundry touching my stuff, thanks very much. I don't love budget travel but it's a means to an end, and when you're with someone who has more money you both have to compromise. Ultimately we prioritise different things when we are abroad. If she doesn't want to end up paying for everything, Persephone needs to meet me in the middle with our accommodation options for Barcelona. She's very generous but I'd prefer to split the cost of somewhere we both like. Should Cara splash more cash? If Cara wants to go hand luggage-only, that's fine, but she needs to pack within her means and not cram her extras into Persephone's luggage. More importantly, I think the couple need to find a better balance when travelling together – something that works for both of their comfort and budget 30 Not guilty, but only just. How and what Cara packs is her own business – there is no reason for them both to do it the same way or share a case. On food and accommodation, they could both compromise and pay for what matters most to them: Persephone pays for the room, Cara pays for 60 Neither party is hugely in the wrong here (except the lack of laundry bag!). Surely the way to compromise is for Persephone to pay for baggage fees and the accommodation, and Cara to pay for the 37 Cara ought to let herself be spoiled. Persephone clearly recognises that she is better off and does pay where helpful, and Cara is willing to foot the bill when she makes a mistake, too. Persephone even seems open to paying for baggage if they share a huge 21 Persephone should be a bit more generous and pay for everything. If you're in a couple it's good to be relaxed about money and err on the side of generosity. It all comes out in the wash 45 In our online poll, tell us: who is in the right? The poll closes on Wednesday 30 July at 10am BST We asked if Murad should use his flatmate's spice rack 17% said yes – Murad is guilty83% said no – Murad is innocent
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Passengers warned not to wear a very common type of shoe on a plane
Tourists jetting off on their holidays this summer should be aware of a particular type of shoe to avoid wearing. Travel guru Pollyann took to her Instagram page, @travelwithpalma, to advise passengers not to wear sandals when travelling on a plane. She warned of the potential issues the clothing choice could cause in an emergency, as well as the much-needed protection that closed-toe footwear offers. Pollyann shared the advice on her Instagram page and said: 'Skip the sandals when you fly - seriously. Change into those sneakers! 'If there's an emergency involving fire, broken glass, or the need to evacuate fast, you'll want real closed-toe shoes to protect your feet and help you move quickly! 'Sandals slow you down and leave you exposed when seconds matter. 'And even when everything goes smoothly, airplane bathrooms mid-flight are…questionable. 'That liquid on the floor? Yeah - it's probably not water. 'For safety and sanitary reasons... protect your feet.' London Luton airport also advises travellers on what may be best to wear during their journeys and noted 'flat slip-on shoes or trainers' would be most suitable. The airport's website reads: 'Our Next Generation Security scanners permit passengers to wear any shoes to fly. 'But, if you're looking for prime comfort, flat slip-on shoes or trainers are best. 'If you prefer to slide out of your shoes during a flight, it's easy to – just put a pair of socks on so you're not barefoot on the move.' While the Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for handling aircraft in America, emphasises the importance of wearing 'sensible clothing'. Like Pollyann, the organisation notes the possibility of an emergency and clothing may help to limit any injuries in this case. The website reads, 'Passengers who wear sensible clothing can reduce their chances of serious injury in the unlikely event of an emergency.' Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration also notes 'low-heeled' shoes made from suitable materials are recommended. The organisation adds, 'Wear low-heeled, leather, or canvas shoes.' It comes as TUI has announced Christmas Day flights with mid-air roast dinner and private meetings with Santa onboard.
