IF you’re dreaming of sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear waters, and glam hotels but your bank account is saying otherwise, you don’t have to cancel your summer plans just yet.
While traditional holiday hotspots like Spain and Greece are reliable, they are becoming increasingly expensive.
Luckily, there’s a handful of stunning European destinations offering amazing holiday vibes for a fraction of the cost.
How about the white sand beaches of Albania, or the affordable resorts of Montenegro
We’ve rounded up three incredible, wallet-friendly European countries where your money stretches further.
This means spectacular package holiday deals starting from just £159pp.
Read more on cheap holidays
Albania
Bathed in sunshine for over 300 days a year, Albania offers stunning natural landscapes, sweeping beaches and cheap hotels that feel ultra-luxurious.
The coastline blends the dramatic, rugged scenery of the Balkans with the sparkling, turquoise waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas.
Your budget stretches remarkably far here compared to holiday hotspots like the Greece or Italy.
For a mix of golden beaches and historical sites, head to Durres, where you can climb the Venetian Tower or explore Roman ruins for free.
For wallet-friendly restaurants and stunning landscapes, try Sarande, which is home to the Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with scenic thick forest overlooking the shore.
Or head to Vlore to stroll its pretty old town lined with boutique cafes and shops, hop on a boat trip to visit stunning sea caves and stay in one of its super glam hotels for a very affordable price.
OUR TOP DEAL
The four-star Ames Hotel & Spa in Vlore is a glamorous hotel with its own private beach and spa.
It’s a small, friendly hotel that is perfect for couples, where you can spend your days taking beach walks and unwinding in the sauna and steam bath.
The deal we’ve found is for early October, which would still be nice and warm with temperatures sitting at 24°C.
The five night stay with breakfast at the Ames Hotel & Spa in Vlore, including return flights from London Luton, is for £219pp.
More cheap Albania holidays
Montenegro
More and more Brits are catching on to Montenegro as their next holiday destination, with its other-worldly beaches and affordable package holidays.
Budva is a buzzing coastal spot with a walled medieval Old Town to explore, and even an island you can visit called Sveti Nikola dubbed by locals as ‘Hawaii Island’.
For a spot of sunbathing, head to Mogren Beach, where towering limestone cliffs shelter two sandy coves with turquoise waters.
Similarly, spots like Ulcinj and Bar are great value coastal towns – Ulcinj is home to Velika Plaza, or ‘Long Beach’, an eight-mile stretch of sand with shallow waters to paddle in and activities like kite boarding.
While Bar is home to unique attractions like Red Beach, a cove with a maroon-coloured shore, and King Nikola’s Palace, a castle-turned-museum surrounded by lush green gardens.
Visit Becici for endless golden beaches dotted with loungers, activities like paragliding and paddleboarding, and high-end hotels for cheap.
OUR TOP DEAL
The Eurostars Queen of Montenegro hotel is in Becici, where a pristine stretch of beach is backed by a line of luxurious yet affordable hotels, visited by the likes of Madonna and Angelina Jolie.
The hotel itself has a huge wellness zone with a Turkish bath, tropical shower, saunas and whirlpool – as well as a sprawling outdoor infinity pool.
Rooms alone usually cost between £200 – £250 per night, however we’ve found a very affordable deal.
We found a deal for a five night stay with breakfast at the Eurostars Queen of Montenegro in Becici, including return flights from London Stansted, for £325pp.
More cheap Montenegro holidays
Bulgaria
You might already know about Sunny Beach, but Bulgaria is home to a whole host of affordable coastal resorts that you may never have heard of.
Just south of Sunny Beach, Nessebar is the affordable and arguably more beautiful neighbour.
Both the north and south beach offer soft sands and clear, shallow water – plus a strip of seafront bars and restaurants that feel less chaotic than the party vibes of
This ancient city feels like an open air museum, with and Old Town packed with 20 ancient Byzantine churches and a fascinating ancient fortifications.
Further up the coast you’ll find Golden Sands, a resort that earns its name with a two-mile beach backed by a buy promenade lined with buzzy restaurants and seafront bars.
This family-friendly resort town also has plenty of attractions and activities like Aquapolis Water Park and off-road buggies.
OUR TOP DEAL
Perla Golden Sands is an action-packed, family-friendly hotel backed by the vibrant greenery of a natural park.
The hotel has plenty to do for kids, including an adventure playground, kids club, evening shows and activities like table tennis and horse riding.
And a week-long holiday is an absolute bargain.
We found a deal for a seven night stay with breakfast at the Perla Golden Sands with return flights from London Luton for £209pp.
More cheap Bulgaria holidays
*Prices correct at the time of publication.