IT’S easy to spend a crazy amount of money on holidays. But it doesn’t have to be that way – you just have to know where to look.
Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Forget paying hundreds of pounds just to fight over sunbeds in overpriced resorts like Ibiza and Mykonos – THIS is where to go instead.
We’ve found holiday destinations that give you the same glorious sunshine, golden sand beaches and gorgeous hotels for much, much less.
Think 86p beers, £3 cocktails, flights under 15 quid and entire holidays for the cost of a family meal out.
From dirt-cheap Portugal holidays to five-star Turkish getaways, here’s the foreign holiday destinations where your cash stretches the furthest.
The Algarve, Portugal
Brits looking for maximum bang for their buck this summer should set their sights on The Algarve.
This golden section of Portuguese coastline was crowned Europe’s best-value beach destination in the 2026 Post Office Family Holiday report.
The report compared a list of common holiday costs in 22 European destinations, looking at the price of things like meals out, drinks and everyday holiday items – and The Algarve came out on top.
This cheap holiday hotspot boasts affordable family-friendly hotels plus plenty of cheap flights from airports across the UK.
You can book a flight to Faro for only £14.99 each way with Ryanair, from airports such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and London Stansted.
And according to Wise’s Cost of Living report, a meal out for two here can cost as little as £8.55, while a beer can cost you as little as 86p.
The destination boasts dramatic cliff-backed beaches perfect for exploring by kayak or paddle-board, such as Praia da Marinha with its famous limestone arches, and Benagil Beach with a circular ‘hole in the roof’ cave.
Whether you’re planning to hit the strip in bustling Albufeira or sip cheap coffees in charming coastal towns, your spending money will stretch miles further in this Portuguese region.
Book a holiday: The Algarve
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
Golden Club Cabanas in Tavira has a giant outdoor pool lined by palm trees that looks like a tropical oasis.
Here you’re close to the Ria Formosa natural park, where you can go kayaking, bird-watching over the salt marshes, or simply find a beach bar to enjoy a cocktail with a view.
We found a seven night self-catering stay from September 19, with return flights from London Stansted, for £195pp.
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast
Holidays to Turkey are looking remarkably cheap this summer, hitting rock-bottom prices that almost look too good to be true.
The good news is, they’re not – and there’s good reason as to why holidays to Turkey are currently so cheap.
The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, said: “There’s never been a better time to grab a bargain break to Turkey.
“With uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, holidaymakers have been looking at the Western Med over the Eastern Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.
“But everything is operating normally in all three countries – Foreign Office travel advice has not changed and it is perfectly safe to visit.
“But the reticence of some has led to a fall in demand and with that, prices have started tumbling too.
“On the ground, everything remains the same – only the prices you’ll pay are very attractive as hoteliers and tour operators tempt us to travel.
“With beautiful Mediterranean coastal resorts offering great value, now is the time to grab yourself a sunshine bargain.”
Key spots on the Turkish Riviera that balance bargain prices with beautiful views include Marmaris, with its long seafront promenade, and Bodrum, often dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey.
Book a holiday: Turkey
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The Solivia Hotel is a sprawling five-star property in Antalya, with a Blue Flag private beach and four swimming pools.
The food and drink is all inclusive done right. There’s an extensive buffet in the main restaurant, plus a beach snack bar, pool bar, unlimited ice cream hour and Turkish coffee on tap.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Solivia Hotel, with return flights from London Luton, from £555pp.
Bulgaria
89p beers, £279 all inclusive holidays and flights under £15 – how could you go wrong?
Bulgaria is one of the most budget-friendly holiday options out there for Brits, and the Bourgas Area was even named the cheapest all inclusive holiday destination in 2026 by Travel Supermarket.
Furthermore, the country continues to appear year after year as a top affordable destination for families in the Post Office Family Holiday Report.
Plus, according to data from Wise, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant averages £8.82, a cappuccino just 88p, and a beer as little as 89p.
You can even find cheap flights to spots like Plovdiv, Sofia and Burgas from £18 each way on Skyscanner.
Now you know just how cheap this holiday hotspot is – where abouts should you actually stay?
Sunny Beach continues to reign as one of the most affordable spots, with bargain waterparks and hotels, plus a nightlife scene where prices have barely budged.
But there’s a lot more to Bulgaria than Sunny Beach.
If you want a quieter beach break, Sozopol’s golden sands and wooden townhouses offer a far more relaxed feel than Sunny Beach – without bumping up the price tag.
Just 15 minutes outside of Sunny Beach, Nessebar boasts a UNESCO-protected old town with cobbled streets and ancient ruins, plus romantic cliffside dining where meals cost a fraction of Mediterranean prices.
Prefer a city break? Sofia and Plovdiv are excellent choices. Sofia boasts dirt-cheap metro rides, grand architecture, and bargain nightlife, while Plovdiv’s trendy Kapana district lets you sip 88p coffees surrounded by ancient Roman ruins.
Book a holiday: Bulgaria
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, sitting in a quieter, northern patch of Sunny Beach.
The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.
Book a seven-night, room-only stay at Sunny Day Club from September 17, with return flights from London Luton, from £179pp.
Albanian Riviera
If you’re craving vibey beach clubs, cheap cocktails, white sands and glimmering turquoise waters – Albania‘s your best bet.
This underrated holiday destination has jaw-dropping coastlines, dirt-cheap drinks, and a five-star feel without the price tag.
And it’s worth booking yourself a holiday here before too many people catch on, too.
Ksamil has even been called the “Maldives of Europe” thanks to its powdery white sands, crystal-clear lagoons, and plush beach clubs.
Another affordable spot is Durres, which is packed with boujee beach clubs and bars.
Head to Sunset Bar for front-row seats to the Adriatic coast and cocktails for a dirt-cheap 300 LEK (£2.75).
Here you can kick back on plush striped sofas, sip a cocktail, and soak in the legendary local sunsets.
Another cheap cocktail bar that actually feels high-end is Illyrian Garden, which has a 360-degree rooftop garden serving drinks from 500 LEK (£4.60).
Book a holiday: Albania
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The 5-star Royal G Max hotel has a private stretch of soft sand beach, a large spa with a sauna and hot tub, plus several swimming pools.
If you like a sun lounger holiday where you can lazily drift between the pool and the sea in a glamorous setting, this is it.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at Royal G Max from October 13, with return flights from London Luton, from £449pp.
Agadir, Morocco
Agadir bagged the top spot as the cheapest destination for a seven-night summer holiday in 2026, according to research from Loveholidays.
The holiday booking site analysed package deals running between June 1 and August 31, with the Moroccan hotspot coming out on top.
According to their booking data, week-long holidays here averaged just £230 per person for a week away.
Agadir is a sunshine-drenched resort guaranteeing year-round heat, plus a six-mile stretch of beach and a vibrant old town bustling with colourful souks.
It’ s an extraordinarily cheap option thanks to plenty of budget airline routes and affordable package holiday deals from sites like Loveholidays and On the Beach.
Plus you can book a flight to Agadir from as little as £20.99 each way with Ryanair.
On top of wallet-friendly flights and accommodation, Morocco’s low local cost of living means dining out, watersports, and day trips can cost a fraction of the price compared to traditional European hotspots.
The average price of a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant here, according to Wise, is only £3.99.
Book a holiday: Agadir
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
For a stress-free family getaway, stay in an apartment at the Appart Hotel Igoudar.
Enjoy a spacious apartment with a well-stocked kitchenette and private terrace, and spend days soaking up the sun on a lounger and taking dips in the outdoor pool.
The building is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and makes for both a relaxing and authentic Moroccan stay.
Loveholidays offer a five-night, room-only stay at the Appart Hotel Igoudar from September 27, including return flights from London Stansted, for £129pp.
Costa Blanca, Spain
Spain‘s Costa Blanca remains a reliably cheap option for a sunny holiday abroad – plus the quick and easy 2.5 hour flight goes by in a flash.
Spots like Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura are traditional Spanish towns where costs stay low.
Guardamar has a 6.8 mile-long, white sand beach, while Torrevieja is home to bubblegum-pink salt lakes like the Laguna Rosa and Blue Flag beaches like the palm-lined stretch of Los Naufragos.
But it wouldn’t be the Costa Blanca without Benidorm, which continues to reign as the final boss of budget breaks.
Holiday Expert Rob Brooks ranks Benidorm among the top destinations for Brits to bag a cheap holiday – and a cheap beer, too.
He said: “If there’s one destination refusing to let the £1 pint disappear quietly, it’s Benidorm.
“People love to moan that the strip isn’t as cheap as it used to be, and to be fair, they’re almost right.
“But every time I go looking for a proper value holiday, Benidorm still cleans up – and there’s one legendary venue everyone mentions: Uncle Ron’s.
“They’re famously flying the flag for the €1 pint long after everyone else moved on, making it the ultimate first pitstop to prove the old-school Benidorm spirit is alive and kicking.”
Book a holiday: Costa Blanca
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
What kid would say no to a pirate island-themed mega resort in sunny Spain?
The Magic Pirates Island Resort in Benidorm has a mega kids pool called Battleship Lagoon, with play boats and jets, plus more relaxed pools for grown-ups with hot tubs and Balinese beds.
Best of all, a stay here gives you free unlimited entry to the Aqua Natura waterpark right next door, as well as free access to Terra Natura Zoo.
Book a five night stay with breakfast from October 10, including return flights from London Luton, for £287pp. (Kids stay free – restrictions apply).
