cheaper

Experts say families could save more than £100, though Ryanair disagrees

Passengers flying with Ryanair are being encouraged to follow several steps to reduce costs on their journeys, though the airline has responded by dismissing the advice as “fake news”.

Consumer champion platform Which? claimed its research revealed travellers may have been spending more than necessary. Last month, Which? suggested families could potentially save over £100 on their next Ryanair flight by simply disregarding the airline’s “recommended” fare option. When arranging a summer journey from London to Alicante for a family of four, Ryanair promoted its “Regular” fare as the “ideal” selection.

But opting for this choice would have cost £59 more than picking the “Basic” fare and adding the identical seats and luggage manually later during the booking process, Which? claimed. The article continues: “If our family decided that we could get by with four cabin bags instead of the eight included in Ryanair’s ‘Regular’ fare, then we could reduce the fare by £163 from Ryanair’s recommendation.

“The Regular fare comes with priority boarding, carry-on luggage and free standard seat selection included, but on around 30 checks over the past two years we’ve only once found it cheaper. We looked at 15 flights to a range of locations in February 2026 and only once was the Regular ticket cheaper, even if we wanted all those extras.”

Ryanair has made its feelings on Which?’s findings abundantly clear. A spokesperson for the airline told Sky News: “This is more fake news from Which? Thankfully no one reads, or takes any notice of Which’s fake recycled news articles or your spurious ‘advice’, as our traffic growth from 200 million to 208 million passengers in 2025 proves.”

I SPEND a lot of my time looking at holiday prices – comparing deals, breaking down packages, and figuring out where the strange little pricing tricks are hiding.

There’s one trend I keep seeing again and again. In some family resorts, it can actually work out cheaper to stay as an adult and a child than as one adult on their own.

That’s not because flights suddenly get cheaper, but because the hotel part of the package drops in price.

It sounds odd, but when you look at how hotels price their rooms, it starts to make sense.

Why does this strange holiday pricing trick happen? The main reason is something called a single supplement.

Most hotel rooms are priced for two people sharing, so when just one person stays, hotels often increase the price to make up for the empty bed.

Solo travellers can end up paying a hidden surcharge, but when you add a child, the pricing works differently.

Family resorts – especially in places like Turkey, Spain and Greece – are built around rooms designed for two adults and a child, and children usually cost hotels less to accommodate.

They often sleep on sofa beds, eat smaller portions and have discounted all-inclusive rates.

Because of that, hotels often price children very cheaply – and sometimes the total hotel cost actually drops compared with a solo booking.

Hotels are usually happy with this because families tend to spend more around the resort, from drinks and snacks to activities and excursions.

So, filling a room with an adult and a child can be more valuable than one guest travelling alone, which occasionally leads to the strange situation where bringing a child makes the hotel portion of the holiday cheaper.

When I looked at the data, I found several resorts where this pricing quirk shows up.

I compared the price of a 7-night stay as a solo traveller versus the cost when bringing one child at a variety of holiday resorts.

Here are some of the best examples, and the biggest savings of up to £698.

Labranda Targa Club Aquapark, Marrakech

Average saving: £30

Just outside Marrakech, Labranda Targa Club Aquapark combines Moroccan sunshine with a proper family-friendly resort setup.

Kids get water slides and splash pools, while adults can explore the markets and gardens of the city nearby.

And the pricing still shows a small advantage, with adult and child bookings averaging £30 cheaper for a 7-night stay than solo travellers.

BLUESEA Puerto Caleta, Fuerteventura

Average saving: £43

Located in Caleta de Fuste, Puerto Caleta is a relaxed apartment complex perfect for an adult and child beach holiday.

You’ve got sandy beaches, boat trips and plenty of restaurants right on your doorstep.

When I priced it up, holidays average a £43 saving for an adult and child per 7-night stay compared with travelling alone.

Sol Barbados, Majorca

Average saving: £45

Sol Barbados in Magaluf is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Majorca.

There’s a huge waterpark-style pool area, kids’ entertainment and easy access to the beach.

For an adult travelling with a child, it’s a simple sun-and-pool holiday – and the pricing shows an average saving of around £45 for a 7-night stay compared to booking solo.

Staycity Aparthotels, near Disneyland Paris

Average saving: £60

City breaks can show the same pattern too.

At Staycity Aparthotels near Disneyland Paris, you’re just minutes from the Disney parks, which makes it ideal for an adult taking a child on their first big theme park trip.

And the pricing structure means the average holiday can come out around £60 cheaper for a 7-night stay when you book as an adult and child instead of travelling alone.

Oludeniz Beach Resort by Z Hotels, Dalaman

Average saving: £81

Oludeniz Beach Resort sits right by one of Turkey’s most famous beaches – the stunning Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz.

It’s an easygoing, all-inclusive resort where an adult and child can spend the day swimming, exploring the beach or watching the paragliders drift down from the mountains.

And package bookings for this hotel show an average saving of £81 for a 7-night stay when adding a child versus travelling solo.

Gran Castillo Tagoro, Lanzarote

Average saving: £212

This five-star resort in Lanzarote is practically designed for family holidays.

Gran Castillo Tagoro has dedicated kids zones, family pools and incredible views over the volcanic coastline near Playa Blanca.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s the perfect mix of relaxation and activities.

Bookings here show an average saving of around £212 when bringing a child for a 7-night stay compared with a solo holiday.

Golden Port Salou & Spa, Costa Dorada

Average saving: £251

In Spain, Golden Port Salou & Spa is a brilliant base for an adult and child holiday.

It’s close to the beaches of Salou and just minutes from PortAventura theme park, which makes it perfect for a trip packed with rides, waterparks and ice cream stops.

Thanks to family-friendly pricing, the average holiday price drops by about £251 per 7-night stay when a child is added to the booking.

Rixos Radamis Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Average saving: £279

If you’re looking for something more luxury, Rixos Radamis in Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most impressive resorts in Egypt.

Huge pools, beach access on the Red Sea, kids clubs and endless all-inclusive food options make it a dream for families.

And the pricing structure here means an adult travelling with a child can save around £279 for a 7-night break on average compared with booking the same trip alone.

Auramar Beach Resort, Algarve

Average saving: £349

Over in Portugal, Auramar Beach Resort sits right above the cliffs near Albufeira with incredible sea views.

It’s a laid-back all-inclusive hotel where an adult and child can spend the day between the beach, the pools and the buffet before watching the sunset over the Atlantic.

Because it’s built for families, adding a child actually brings the average holiday price down by around £349 for a 7-night break compared with travelling solo.

Eftalia Blue, Antalya

Average saving: £698

One of the biggest differences I found was at Eftalia Blue on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

This is a classic big Turkish all-inclusive resort with huge pools, slides, and easy access to the famous Eftalia Island beach complex.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s ideal – kids get waterparks and entertainment all day while parents can relax by the pool or head down to the beach.

And the pricing quirk here is huge, with holidays averaging almost £700 cheaper for an adult and child for a 7-night stay compared to travelling alone.

Here’s my key takeaways for travellers.

I should make it clear: holidays aren’t always cheaper with kids.

Flights are still one of your biggest spends, and plenty of hotels price things normally.

But when you start digging through package holiday deals, you occasionally find this strange pricing quirk.

Because of single supplements and heavily discounted child rates, this is one of those travel industry secrets you only really notice when you spend your days digging through holiday data.

EACH year around 1.4million Brits head to Portugal’s Algarve – so why not explore a quieter Portuguese gem that is cheaper?

Portugal’s Silver Coast – also known as Costa de Prata – stretches for 155 miles from central to western Portugal.

And it offers several different holiday types.

Think dramatic landscapes to be explored, beaches to sunbathe on and historic towns to investigate.

Spanning from north of Lisbon to near Porto, the Silver Coast tends to be less crowded than the Algarve.

One spot you can head to is Nazare, known for having the world’s biggest surfable waves.

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The old fishing town features a long, crescent shaped beach with white sand and crystal clear water.

And this is one of the spots in the town where you will find surfers tackling huge waves.

In fact, it is the Nazaré Canyon that is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, that produces the town’s colossal waves.

Away from the water, the town also has a lot of narrow streets to explore with cosy restaurants serving fresh seafood.

For example, you could head to Restaurante Maria do Mar, which is the best-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in the area, serving ‘Maria do Mar’ fish stew for just €9.50 (£8.20).

Surfers should also head to Ericeira, which is another popular surf town.

It is widely known as the ‘surfing capital of Europe‘ and is home to one of only two World Surfing Reserves in Europe.

If you are not a surfer, then simply enjoy the town’s beautiful beaches such as Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman’s Beach) or Praia do Norte.

There’s also Obidos, which has a charming, medieval walled town.

In the picturesque town you can walk through Moorish gates and see colourful houses covered in bright pink flowers in summer.

The medieval walls encircle the entire village, which you can explore.

There’s even a spot that is dubbed the ‘Venice of Portugal’ – Aveiro.

The nickname comes from the colourful boats that sail down canals in the town.

Originally, the boats – called moliceiros – were used to carry seaweed that had been harvested, but now they offer tours to visitors along the canals and past Art Nouveau buildings.

In the Old Town, you’ll find cobblestone streets with small fish and coastal images embedded into the cobbles.

Make sure to visit Ponte dos Laços de Amizade (Bridge of Friendship Ties) where couples tie ribbons on to the bridge.

And definitely grab some Ovos Moles which are sweets from the area.

They are egg yolk and sugar mixed together and then moulded into different shapes, like seashells.

Drop by Confeitaria Peixinho, the oldest Ovos Moles shop in Aveiro, which has been running since 1856 – each Ovos Mole costs about €1.60 (£1.38).

Nearby Aveiro there is another spot worth visiting called Costa Nova.

Here you will find rows upon rows of colourful striped beach cottages.

Elsewhere along the Silver Coast, you can visit the coastal village of Foz do Arelho and two beaches created by a saltwater lagoon.

Both feature white sand and are the ideal places to go paddleboarding.

If you want to grab a bite to eat, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the promenade.

Several of the pubs and bars along the Silver Coast sell beers for €1.25 (£1.08), like at Marcianus 3.0 in Foz do Arelho, where you can pick up a bottle of Imperial beer for this price.

Depending on where you wish to go on the Silver Coast, you can fly into either Lisbon or Porto Airports.

One-way flights from the UK to Lisbon or Porto cost as little as £15 per person in April.

Also, depending on where you want to visit, there are a number of different accommodation options.

The average cost for a night in a four-star hotel in the region costs between £65 and £80.

For more places to explore in Portugal, there’s a secret side to the country that has just been crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.

Plus, the pretty city that was the birthplace of the first king of Portugal that is set to be big this year.

A lesser-known Spanish resort is shaping up to be one of the more affordable escapes, with £3 pints and £15 flights, combined with its allure of reliable sunshine and dramatic landscapes

A beautiful Spanish region that enjoys a tropical climate is ‘cheaper than Costa del Sol’ with £3 pints and £15 flights, just three hours from the UK.

Costa del Sol is a popular tourist destination, with the city of Marbella attracting thousands of holidaymakers each year, yet it’s not always the cheapest. While there are more affordable areas to visit in Costa del Sol, there’s another beautiful resort in Spain while worth exploring, and it could save you almost £300.

Known as the ‘desert coast’, Costa de Almería offers almost year-round sunshine and is one of the driest climates on the continent, so you’ll rarely need to worry about the weather. With stunning volcanic beaches, azure waters and desert landscapes, it’s a haven for travellers seeking a quieter escape from the tourist crowds.

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Often overlooked by Brits, Costa de Almería has been hailed by the experts at First Choice as “significantly cheaper than Spain’s main holiday hotspots”. First Choice found that a seven-night stay at the four-star Best Oasis Tropical hotel in Almería during early May costs £281 per person, including flights – that’s around £290 cheaper per couple than a similar break in the Costa del Sol.

The travel experts also found that a beer could set you back just £3 (€3.50) in Almería, compared to the holiday hotspots of Marbella, which could cost as much as £5.19 (€6) per beer.

They also found that a three-course meal for two in Almería would typically cost between £25 (€30) and £30 (€35). This is in stark contrast to the same meal in Marbella, which could range from £51 (€60) to £86 (€100), saving around £61 (€70) per meal in Almería, and a total of £427 (€493) during a seven-night stay.

If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Costa de Almería welcomes more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and only sees around 26 days of rainfall a year. It also receives 93 per cent less rain in May than the Costa del Sol, averaging just 1mm compared to 15mm.

Thanks to its location near the Tabernas Desert, the experts at First Choice say the region enjoys a warmer climate and sun-soaked rays “weeks before neighbouring areas.” Alongside its tropical climate and cost-cutting benefits, Almería offers plenty to explore, including diverse landscapes and golden-sand beaches.

The protected Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is well worth a visit, with its volcanic cliffs, hidden coves and some of the most picturesque Spanish beaches. There’s also the stunning Tabernas Desert to explore on a guided day tour, as well as the charming whitewashed hilltop village of Mojácar.

Some may recognise Mojácar, which was famously used as the backdrop for major Hollywood movies, including Indiana Jones, as well as the hit TV series Game of Thrones. For film buffs, there’s the opportunity to visit the preserved Wild West film set of MiniHollywood Oasys, with shows and attractions, to feel as though you’ve stepped directly into Indiana Jones.

As a lesser-known destination compared to the Costa del Sol, there are few high-rise hotels towering over the beach, and quieter beaches, so you’ll often be able to find the perfect sun-soaked spot. What’s more, flights from London Stansted to Almería start from as little as £15 one-way, according to Sky Scanner.

Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price. That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

FORGET the Costa del Sol – there is a nearby resort that is cheaper, hotter and has less rain.

Costa de Almería, while not a ‘hidden gem’ per-say, is often overlooked as a holiday destination compared to the popularity of its famous neighbour.

A huge draw is it having a much better climate – with a ‘desert’ coastline due to its proximity to Taberna Desert, the only one of its kind in Europe.

This means a lot less rain too with just 1mm in May compared to the Costa del Sol‘s 15mm, a drop of 93 per cent.

This also means 3,000 hours of sunshine a year which is far more than the UK’s average of 1,350.

Travel experts at First Choice have also found some much cheaper deals too, from as little as £281 for a week’s stay (nearly half the price of a holiday in nearby resorts).

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Dining out is affordable too – the experts say that meals are around €30 (£26), half the price of ones in nearly Marbella.

And pints can be found for €3.50 (£3), especially in Mojacar.

These cheap prices mean you could save up to €455 (£394) on food and drink during a week’s stay.

Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price.

“That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out.”

It was even named in easyJet’s Cheap Beach Index last year, coming in third place.

So it’s drier, sunnier and cheaper – making it a no brainer for another holiday.

When it comes to things to do there, there are far fewer high rise hotels so you can enjoy the more traditional towns.

A popular spot is Mojácar – a pretty village that fans of Indiana Jones and Game of Thrones might recognise.

Or it is home to La Isleta del Moro in Almeria, dubbed ‘Little Mykonos‘ for its similar white buildings. 

There is the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, a protected area with volcanic geology, hidden coves and huge unspoiled beaches.

Otherwise visit Roquetas de Mar, beachfront town with lots of shops, bars and restaurants.

A unique attraction is Oasys (formerly known as Mini Hollywood) which is found in the Tabernas Desert in Almeria.

Being persuaded to even move there? A Place in The Sun presenter Craig Rowe named it as a great alternative to buy a place abroad on a budget.

He told Sun Travel: “Costa Almería in Spain is really good, especially for anyone on a lower budget.

“It’s not overly developed yet, so the airport links aren’t as strong as what you would get from somewhere on the Costa del Sol.

“But it’s great for someone who would want to buy somewhere and get good bargains that’s authentically Spanish.

“But there are things you have to compromise on – in terms of flying, you have to bear in mind there aren’t that many flights.

“But in years to come there could be, as it’s expanding and very up and coming.”

Here are some other alternative holiday destinations, according to the experts.

And one woman has revealed the lesser-visited Spanish island to go to.

–

A COUPLE flew to the Alps for a day of skiing – which was still cheaper than a day out in London.

Hannah West, 39, and her husband Simon 52, flew to the French Alps to enjoy fondue and five hours of skiing.

The duo, from Brighton, flew from Gatwick Airport to Geneva last month 6:10am and returned the same evening at 9:30pm.

The day trip included a day of skiing in La Clusaz – including ski gear hire – as well as some fondue, wine and desert.

Hannah said: “We got in five hours of skiing which I think is how much most people would do in a day anyway.

“The fact that we got to do that much skiing and it’s something we will never forget, I think it’s totally worth it.”

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The couple also parked their car at Gatwick Airport for £31.68 and spent £14.63 on fuel and £10.70 on tolls.

The day trip cost a total of £671.80 working out to £335.90 per person.

While Hannah admits it sounds expensive, she said it was still cheaper compared to a day out in London.

For example, the average ticket price for the best seats at a London West End costs around £160 each.

If they were to have dinner before the show, that could easily set them back between £60 and £100 total.

And if they had travelled from Brighton on the train, an open train ticket is £42.70.

This includes just the evening entertainment…

If the couple were to do another activity in the day, this could set them back anywhere between £30 and £100 each, and then, of course, add on having lunch out and getting London transport around the city.

It adds up quickly.

She also explained how she has seen a lot of people head off on city day trips, but “wanted to see if it was possible to do it for a ski trip”.

Hannah said: “The whole day felt magical and I felt like I was beaming the whole time.

“I couldn’t believe it was possible, the whole day I was on a high. It was the best date day.”

“This is such a great opportunity to have an amazing date day with your partner – to do something you both really love together and have a really special day you’re going to remember forever.”

To save even more money, Hannah admitted that they could have booked their flights further in advance or booked as part of a group.

She added: “It’s not about replacing a week-long ski holiday, or am I suggesting this is something to do on a regular basis.

“But if you’re time-poor, or don’t have childcare for a week away, you can still have an amazing, special day together.”

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Plus, one person has been on 30 extreme day trips to Europe – here’s their favourite destination and the one they won’t go back to.