WHEN someone tells me holidays have got more expensive, my first question is usually: where are you looking?
Because holidays – and winter sun ones especially – don’t always come with the steep price tag… if you know where to look.
Even on the same island, holidaymakers can end up paying more in one resort while spending less in another.
And knowing which names to put into the search box can make all the difference.
So I’ve been digging through the booking data, comparing this winter with the winter before, to find the destinations where holidaymakers actually paid less on average.
From Tenerife, to Egypt, to long-haul luxury in Mexico – I’ve found a holiday alternative in every destination where the prices are considerably lower right now, compared to how much they were last year.
And with up to 18 per cent slashed off the price of a five-night stay, there’s no excuse not to consider a little pre-Christmas getaway…
10. El Medano, Tenerife – 1% less
El Medano earns its name for offering a completely different flavour of Tenerife.
Beach and water sports are a big deal here, making it a good option for someone who likes an active seaside holiday alongside the usual eating, relaxing and enjoying being away.
I’d put it on the shortlist if you want the beach to be the centre of the trip, with plenty of opportunity to get outside.
The average amount paid here edged down one per cent year on year, with a small dip in the nightly average too.
The deal I found is at Hotel KN Arenas del Mar Beach & Spa, a four-star, adults-only hotel with a pool overlooking the sea.
It’s a five night Bed & Breakfast break from £315pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on December 14, 2026 – a perfect pre-Christmas seaside break.
9. Matagorda, Lanzarote – 2% less
Matagorda is somewhere I’d suggest for a simple, classic Lanzarote beach break – the long stretch of golden sand gives you the perfect starting point for a winter holiday.
The average amount paid here dipped two per cent, keeping spending down between the two winters.
That’s a result, especially when you consider Playa Blanca – also on Lanzarote – saw average costs rise seven per cent.
For someone who already likes Lanzarote, Matagorda is another name worth checking before deciding where to stay.
The deal I found is five nights’ Self Catering at San Marcial from £200pp, including direct return flights from Bristol on December 12, 2026.
There’s a pool for spending time around the accommodation, while the self-catering basis gives you control over the food budget.
This means popping to the local supermarket – one of my favourite things to do on holiday – for your food, while having the option to eat out without feeling like you are wasting a meal at the hotel.
And at just £400 for two people, including flights, you’ve got a very tempting starting price for a winter escape.
8. Makadi Bay, Egypt – 6% less
Makadi Bay is one I’d check out for a Hurghada holiday this year, and it’s perfect for a holiday where leaving the hotel isn’t top of your list between cocktails and swimming.
Think time by the pool, trips down to the beach and making the most of having your main meals sorted if you choose all inclusive.
It suits the sort of break where getting extremely comfortable for a week is the whole plan.
And the average amount paid here between winters fell six per cent.
What makes that especially sweet is the contrast with Hurghada itself, where holidaymakers paid nine per cent more on average.
It’s just another example of why I’d always compare individual resort areas rather than searching for one destination and assuming the job is done.
The deal I found is at the five-star Stella Beach Resort & Spa Makadi Bay: a five night all inclusive stay from £415pp, including direct return flights from London Luton on December 12, 2026.
Five-star accommodation, all inclusive and flights for £83 per person per night across the package? That deserves real consideration, even from me.
7. Sharm El Sheikh (town) – 6% less
Sharm El Sheikh is one I regularly consider when someone asks for a winter holiday recommendation.
There’s a massive choice of resorts, with an endless coast of gorgeous beaches right on your doorstep.
The booking figures make this result particularly interesting – Brits paid six per cent less on average, year on year.
And, I should say, this was a spot attracting substantially more bookings compared to the year before. Yet still, the average costs came down.
The deal I found is five nights, all inclusive at Amwaj Oyoun Hotel and Resort from £345pp, including direct return flights from London Gatwick on December 6, 2026.
It’s a five-star hotel with a massive pool area, and it’s the sort of place where I’d happily build my day around which pool and which restaurant I’m liking the look of.
That’s £690 for two people, with flights, accommodation, meals and drinks covered.
Remind me why we spend winter in the UK again?
6. Nuevo Horizonte, Fuerteventura – 7% less
Nuevo Horizonte, also known as Costa de Antigua, is a useful name to know if you’re keen to get away this winter for a good price.
It’s on Fuerteventura’s east coast, close to Caleta de Fuste, and I’d consider it for a relaxed holiday with plenty of warmth.
For a budget-conscious trip, I’d look closely at apartment options.
This means more control over your spending by having breakfast in your apartment, keeping beers in the fridge and choosing when to eat out.
This had the lowest average amount paid of anywhere on the list, with holidaymakers spending seven per cent less on average than the winter before.
The deal I found is five nights self catering at Elba Lucia Sport & Suite Hotel from £200pp, including direct return flights from Newcastle on December 12, 2026.
There’s a large pool area to enjoy, and as mentioned, the self-catering basis lets you decide how much of the holiday involves eating in or heading out.
Five nights in Fuerteventura for £400 for two, including flights, is a very sweet deal to have on your radar.
5. Playa del Carmen, Mexico – 8% less
If you’re thinking about a bigger, flashier winter escape, this is the spot I’d pay close attention to.
Playa del Carmen puts Mexico’s Caribbean coast on this shortlist, with plenty of beach time and the option to explore the Riviera Maya.
However, I would always look particularly closely at what the hotel includes here.
On a longer trip, an all inclusive package can cover a substantial part of your holiday spending before you arrive.
The average amount paid fell eight per cent, which meant a reduction of over £170 per person on average – the largest cash decrease on this list.
For two people, the difference between those averages was more than £350.
The deal I found is ten nights all inclusive at the five-star Bluebay Grand Esmeralda from £1,250pp, including direct return flights from London Gatwick on December 2, 2026.
That gives you a longer stay to settle into, with your main meals and selected drinks already part of the booking – a tantalising way to spend the run-up to Christmas.
4. Om El Sid, Sharm El Sheikh – 8% less
Om El Sid is one of my favourite parts of Egypt.
The area is known for its coral reefs and snorkelling, giving you something rather more interesting to look at than the bottom of a swimming pool.
For me, that’s a good reason to be specific about where in Sharm you stay – the location and beach access can become a major part of what makes the hotel worth booking.
Holidaymakers paid eight per cent less on average here too.
The deal I found is a five night all inclusive break at Old Vic Sharm Resort & Spa from £295pp, including direct return flights from Newcastle on December 9, 2026.
The hotel has a gorgeous pool if you don’t fancy a snorkel, and the all inclusive basis means your meals and drinks are covered while you’re there.
That’s £590 for two people, including flights – or £59 per person per night across the package.
So you’re bagging five nights away with a huge chunk of the everyday spending sorted. It’s easily one of the best deals I’ve spotted all year!
3. Golf del Sur, Tenerife – 9% less
Golf del Sur is worth a look if you fancy a much slower-than-usual Tenerife holiday, particularly if you like the idea of spending plenty of time enjoying your hotel.
And, as the name rather helpfully suggests, golfers have an obvious reason to take a closer look.
The area’s course combines volcanic scenery with Atlantic views, making a round here a very different proposition from searching for your ball in a wet British hedge.
But I’d also consider the area for a straightforward week of pool time, leisurely meals and a change of scenery.
The average cost here fell nine per cent, giving you another Tenerife name worth comparing when you’re searching.
The deal I found is five nights’ Bed & Breakfast at Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel & Spa from £250pp, including direct return flights from Liverpool on December 13, 2026.
With breakfast included, you’ve got the first meal of the day sorted before you’ve had to make any meaningful decisions.
That’s £500 for two people for five nights away, including flights – I’d happily start planning around that.
2. Playa de la Arena, Tenerife – 13% less
Playa de la Arena is another spot in Tenerife that gives you something different to what you’d expect.
The black-sand beach is the centrepiece here, with places to eat nearby and lovely sunset views towards La Gomera.
Holidaymakers paid 13 per cent less on average.
This is the largest fall among the three Tenerife resorts on this list.
The deal I found is five nights including Bed & Breakfast at Sholeo Lodges Los Gigantes from £250pp, including direct return flights from London Stansted on December 5, 2026.
It’s an adults-recommended hotel so perfect if you want a break without any kids splashing you from the pool.
It comes high recommended too, with a very impressive 4.7 out of 5 Tripadvisor score.
Breakfast sorted, five nights in Tenerife and flights for £500 for two – hard to argue with that.
1. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria – 18% less
Las Palmas gives you two very good reasons to get on a plane: a proper city break and a beach holiday in the same place.
You’ve got the restaurants, cafés and everyday life of Gran Canaria’s capital, alongside Las Canteras – a long city beach with a promenade made for chilled-out walks and stopping for something to eat.
I’d recommend it to someone who wants winter sunshine but also likes having plenty on the doorstep.
By that, I mean each in the morning, lunch somewhere different and an afternoon where the world is your oyster.
And handily, this was the biggest mover in my analysis with Brits paying a whopping 18 per cent less on average!
The deal I found is five nights self catering at URBANSEA Holiday Homes from £245pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on December 10, 2026.
I like the self-catering option for this sort of trip because you can sort some meals and drinks yourself, leaving more spending money for trying different places around the city.
That’s £490 for two people, including flights, for five nights combining Gran Canaria with a city break. My pick of the bunch!