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.
The Algarve is the cheapest destination for a family holiday in 2026, according to a Post Office reportCredit: GettyAlbania offers cheap holidays in stunning resorts like Ksamil and DurresCredit: Getty
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
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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.
Antalya is just one stunning destination on Turkey’s Turquoise CoastCredit: Getty
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
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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 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, ameal outat 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
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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.
Week-long holidays to Agadir average just £230, according to Loveholidays booking dataCredit: Getty
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
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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.
You could visit the pink saltwater lagoon of Torrevieja on a trip to Spain’s Costa BlancaCredit: Getty
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’sBenidorm.
“People love to moan that the strip isn’t ascheapas it used to be, and to be fair, they’re almost right.
“But every time I go looking for a proper value holiday,Benidormstill 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-schoolBenidormspirit is alive and kicking.”
Book a holiday: Costa Blanca
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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 Naturawaterparkright 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).
EXCLUSIVE: Rae Knopik, 31, was always determined to find out more about her Italian roots, and now she’s able to dive into her history further than she ever imagined after winning a €1 (86p) home in Troina with the love of her life
Couple meet in Italy and win €1 house
A couple managed to snap up a €1 (86p) home in Italy after finding love in the romantic country. Rae Knopik, 31, had always been determined to explore her Italian heritage, and now she’s able to delve into her roots further than she ever dreamed possible. The social media personality, who has amassed over 35,000 followers on Instagram eager to follow her adventures, opened up about how she managed to secure her dream home alongside her fiancé Declan Norrie, 31.
Rae, who is American, explained that her family originally hails from Sicily. Her ancestors ended up settling in the US when her great-great-grandmother and great-great-grandfather emigrated, despite her great-great-grandmother being reluctant to do so at the time.
Rae explained: “She never learnt English and never smiled in her family photographs. I found her so fascinating and I wanted to return to my Sicilian heritage.”
Eventually, Rae relocated to Florence, where she lived for a period of time. It was there that she met Declan, the man she is now set to wed.
“I met the love of my life when I was in Florence. Four weeks after meeting him, I was on a plane to Australia, and I’ve been here ever since,” she added.
However, when Covid struck, the pair began browsing the internet for travel videos while they were unable to venture far from home, and it was during this time that they stumbled across the €1 (86p) property in Troina. While it’s not something many people would seriously contemplate without a lot of thought, they simply thought “why not?” and threw their names into the hat.
After taking part in a series of interviews, they heard nothing for quite some time — but then everything changed in an instant.
Rae added: “They waited for about 12 months. We didn’t tell anyone about it in case the house didn’t pan out but, in May 2022, they said ‘you have won the house, would you like to come see it?'”
The couple flew over in June and snapped it up almost immediately. They later found out that roughly 60,000 people had entered for the property, meaning they had truly struck gold.
When asked about the condition of the property, Rae said: “We knew it was going to be a complete renovation. We didn’t know how long it’d been since someone had lived in the house.
“They clean it up, but you know it’s going to be a complete renovation. We didn’t even think we’d have running water so we were pretty pleased with the house.
“It was over 60 years since someone had lived in it. It is a complete renovation journey.”
The couple must now carry out a full overhaul of the property, entirely at their own expense. There are also certain conditions they are required to adhere to.
Renovation regulations, however, can vary considerably depending on the area when it comes to €1 properties. It’s therefore essential to thoroughly research the rules before putting in an application for any property.
She also pointed out that people can have the wrong idea about purchasing them. They are far from simple bargains, as Rae explained that a considerable amount of effort and money is required to make them habitable.
Nevertheless, Rae has ambitious plans for the property, and the couple are also planning to tie the knot in Italy, with some of the locals even intending to come along. For this young pair, they may well end up returning to the very place that sparked their whirlwind romance.
When asked to describe Troina, Rae said that as you drive towards it, it looks like “a castle in the sky”, adding that “it’s quite romantic”. She now hopes the home will be transformed into a stunning retreat for them to share with loved ones once the renovation is complete.
“I want my family to use it,” she added. “Me and Declan want to settle there at some point for months or even years, but I hope it will be used by my family.”
Fans of the classic cocktail, which has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years, should head to this sunny city where you can enjoy a glass of the summery orange drink for just one Euro
The Aperol Spritz has become one of the most popular cocktails on holiday(Image: Getty Images/Westend61)
Head to the Mediterranean during the summer months and you’ll often see tables laden with oversized glasses of Aperol Spritz. The iconic orange cocktail has become a holiday staple, whether it’s served at a pavement café in a cobblestoned old town, or a beachfront bar with plastic chairs.
But like many so aspects of holidays, the price has been steadily rising in popular resorts, turning it into a costly treat. However, there are still places where you can pick up an inexpensive cocktail, and one city has been named the cheapest spot to enjoy an ice cold Aperol.
Travel money provider eurochange has put together an Aperol Spritz index, tracking the top ten cheapest destinations in Europe where you can enjoy this summery cocktail without worrying about your bar bill, and luckily the least expensive spot is just a three-hour flight from the UK.
According to the research, Naples in Italy is the cheapest place to order your Aperol with the average cost coming in at €2 (approximately £1.73), but one bar is famous for serving these sunset cocktails for just one Euro (approximately 86p). Don’t expect a fancy cocktail bar if you visit Cammarota Spritz as it consists of tables crammed into an alleyway and drinks served in plastic cups, but the lively atmosphere has seen it receive a raft of positive reviews, with one saying it was: “Our favourite bar in Naples, no messing about with ‘drink-in’ or ‘takeaway’ prices, no service charges, just good cheap Spritz.”
And after a few Euro spritzes, you may find yourself craving another Napoli staple; the city is the birthplace of modern pizza, and you’ll find plenty of hole-in-the-wall places where you can pick up a slice. A popular late-night snack is pizza al portafoglio, also known as ‘wallet pizza’ as it comes folded and served in paper so you can devour it while walking back to your hotel.
Naples is ideal for as a spring or autumn city break, offering about 210 sunny days a year, so you can enjoy the winding historic streets and visit attractions such as Museo Cappella Sansevero, home of the stunning marble Veiled Christ statue.
Explore the city’s ancient sites at Napoli Sotterranea – underground Naples – taking you through an extensive network of streets and squares built under the surface by Romans and Greeks. Pass throw the narrow tunnels of the aqueduct, see old air raid shelters from World War 2, and climb through a hatch into the ancient Roman theatre of Neapolis.
Naples also has a variety of beaches, including some small stretches of sand on the outskirts of the city. These urban beaches can be small and busy during heatwaves, but they’re perfect for when you simply want a quick dip in the Med.
You can also take buses further down the coast for a day at a beach club or a public beach. Close to Naples you’ll find Gaiola Beach, famous for its islets that rise from the sea that can be crossed by bridge. Or the craggy coastline of Scoglione Marechiaro, famous for its turquoise waters.
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