The 8 cheap Spanish resorts to ditch Benidorm and Marbella for this summer

FORGET Benidorm and Marbella. They’re brilliant if that’s exactly what you’re after, but every summer I find myself recommending lesser-known resorts in Spain.

Often just a short drive down the road – where you get the exact same sunshine, beaches, and holiday feeling for a fraction of the cost.

In my job as a holiday expert at On The Beach, I spend pretty much every day buried in booking trends, live capacity, and raw price data, so I have a solid idea of where the real value is hiding.

And this summer, I’ve spotted some incredible rates in Spanish resorts that most people scroll straight past.

I’ve found holidays with prices starting from just £220pp… and that’s during the school holidays.

If you’re looking to stretch your holiday fund a little further, these are the alternative Spanish spots I’d be recommending right now.

San Pedro del Pinatar, Costa Calida

If you’re looking for the laid-back beach lifestyle people head to Marbella for, but without the overinflated bar tabs, San Pedro del Pinatar is a massive value alternative.

Sitting between the Mediterranean and Europe’s largest salt lagoon, it gives you huge sandy beaches and warm, shallow water while still feeling properly, authentically Spanish.

I found a five-night stay at the Aparthotel Bahia, departing on 23 August on a self-catering basis, from just £220pp.

And this hotel caught my eye because it’s one of those simple, really well-reviewed hotels that punches above its price.

It’s notoriously spotless, the staff are super-friendly and the rooftop pool overlooking the town is to die for.

It’s exactly the sort of hotel I’d happily book if I wanted to spend my days exploring rather than paying for facilities I’d barely use.

La Manga del Mar Menor, Costa Calida

There aren’t many places in Europe quite like La Manga.

It’s a narrow, unique strip of land with the open Mediterranean on one side and the calm, super-warm Mar Menor lagoon on the other, meaning you are never more than a few minutes’ walk from the water.

It’s an ideal, relaxed substitute if Benidorm feels a bit too chaotic for your liking.

One deal that really stood out was the Ona Lomas Village Manga Club, where I spotted a deal for five nights with breakfast included from £260pp, flying from Glasgow on 23 August.

This property is a massive complex with beautifully kept grounds, but the top-tier perk here is the access to the legendary, elite-level golf and tennis facilities on-site.

Because it’s an internationally renowned sports hub, you get access to world-class gym setups and courts that you’d normally only find at an ultra-premium luxury sports resort.

Guardamar del Segura, Costa Blanca

People often completely overlook Guardamar because they’re busy typing ‘Benidorm’ into the search bar, but it’s an absolute gem.

It serves up over 10km of wide, golden beaches backed by massive pine forests and sand dunes, alongside an authentic Spanish town center that completely avoids the noisy party-resort energy.

While searching the live data, I clocked a self-catering stay at the Alannia Guardamar resort from £305pp in late August.

This place operates like a premium, fully loaded holiday village, and the best feature here for me is their massive, tropical lagoon-style pool.

It’s designed with a specialised, gradual beach-style entry rather than a sudden drop.

This is ideal if you have toddlers, as they can safely paddle around the water without you constantly on edge – making it one of the most relaxing pool setups for parents on the coast.

Malgrat de Mar, Costa Brava

The Costa Brava has some of Spain‘s prettiest, most rugged coastline, and Malgrat de Mar is easily one of the best-value ways to experience it.

You get a massive sandy beach and an easy train connection straight into Barcelona, but hotel rates here are noticeably lower than its more famous neighbors like Lloret de Mar.

I found a great-value deal at the Alegria Maripins, with five nights from £268pp, flying from the East Midlands on 22 August.

Aside from this hotel being just a two-minute stroll from the sand, the standout feature here is almost certainly their evening entertainment and terrace setup.

Unlike the generic, low-effort hotel acts you often get saddled with, they host proper, high-energy live music and flamenco nights right on an outdoor terrace that lets you enjoy a proper night out without ever leaving the building or dipping into your pocket for expensive town bars. Bargain.

Mojacar, Costa de Almería

Mojacar gives you a brilliant crossover that very few Spanish resorts can match.

You get one of Andalucía‘s most beautiful, historic whitewashed hilltop villages packed with independent tapas spots, alongside miles of wide beach just a few minutes down the hill.

It feels far more authentic than Marbella but still delivers the full summer holiday package.

One of the best deals I found here was at the Best Mojacar, with five nights from £335pp, departing on 23 August.

My top pick of features at this resort is the outdoor wellness setup.

They have a brilliant, fully functional outdoor hot tub and Turkish bath zone integrated directly into the palm-lined pool gardens.

It means you can grab a proper, high-end spa experience out in the Mediterranean sunshine rather than being stuck in a dark, basement hotel gym. You know the ones. Grim.

Blanes, Costa Brava

Most people instinctively look at Lloret de Mar in Costa Brava, but I would gladly swap it for Blanes instead.

Known as the gateway to the Costa Brava, it serves up beautiful botanical gardens overlooking the sea, great local restaurants, and a relaxed atmosphere that feels way less hectic than the big-name tourist hotspots nearby.

I spotted a five-night stay at the recently refurbished Blaucel hotel from just £263pp this August.

Because the property underwent a top-to-bottom modern overhaul, the rooms feel exceptionally fresh, but my pick of features at this hotel is the underground tunnel connection.

The hotel is linked directly to its sister property, the Blaumar, via a sleek indoor walkway, giving you completely free, seamless access to twice the amount of pools, kids’ clubs, and spa facilities without having to walk out onto the main street. And not a lot of people realise that before booking!

Cala Ratjada, Majorca

When people think of Majorca they usually picture Palma Nova or Magaluf, but Cala Ratjada shows a completely different, civilised side of the island.

In this resort, you’re getting turquoise coves, crystal-clear water, and a lovely harbour front lined with seafood spots.

I found a self-catering deal at the THB Guya Playa from £358pp, flying on 21 August.

This is easily one of my favourite properties on the list because it feels incredibly high-end.

The absolute killer feature here though is the design of the sea-view spa – they’ve built a indoor heated pool with massive, floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking directly out over the open ocean.

It means even if you get a rare overcast afternoon, you can lounge in luxury right on the water’s edge. Or, if you’re anything like me, when the sun gets too much you can retreat inside without giving up the pool.

Tossa de Mar, Costa Brava

If someone asked me for Spain’s absolute prettiest seaside town, Tossa de Mar is right at the top of the list.

Its medieval castle looks right down onto the main beach, the old town is a maze of cobbled streets, and it avoids the over-commercialised look of some neighbour-resorts.

I tracked down a self-catering deal at the GHT Tossa Park Apartments from just £295pp, departing from London on 19 August. And this hotel really does over-deliver for the money. 

Taking a peek through, it’s clear that the standout feature here is the independent apartment layout paired with full hotel services.

Which basically means you get a massive, separate living space and kitchen setup to keep your daily food costs low, but you still get a full 24-hour reception and an excellent central pool bar, giving you the complete freedom of an Airbnb with all the security and perks of a proper hotel resort.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.