Holiday tips tricks and hacks

OUR Spotlight On column takes an indepth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as shining a light on the lesser-known spots.

This week, we look at the historic Hertfordshire city of St Alban’s, home to more pubs per square mile than any other UK destination.

The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski is a local, and knows all the best spots.

She said: “Despite being an action-packed city, just a 20-minute train ride from the UK’s capital, St Albans has managed to maintain a village-y feel with cosy cafes run by locals and tiny boutiques selling hand-painted homeware.

“It’s absolutely crawling with fascinating history and claims to be home to the oldest pub in Britain, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks – a local rumour claims that a set of old tunnels, dug by monks, lurk beneath the pub leading all the way up the hill to the cathedral.

“Every Saturday and Wednesday, the streets are full of traders flogging from tiny market stalls.

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“First established in 860, it is said to be the second oldest market in the UK.”

Here are some other top tips including where to stay.

MUST SEE/DO

Hertfordshire’s only city has a fascinating history dating back more than 2,000 years.

St Albans was a huge hub in the Roman era and you can still see the remains of an ancient wall when you stroll around the 100-acre Verulamium Park.

The striking cathedral is one of the city’s main attractions, and daily tours are free.

Be sure to swing by the cafe there for some seriously tasty sausage rolls.

HIDDEN GEM

Not many people know that you can watch a play in an actual Roman theatre. Upcoming plays at the Roman Theatre include Sherlock Holmes, The Importance Of Being Earnest and Twelfth Night.

The venue is entirely outdoors so bring your own blanket, or you can rent one on site. There’s also a bar. BEST VIEW: The Clock Tower, dating back to 1405, stands in pride of place at the foot of the city’s cobbled high street.

It opens to the public every weekend and bank holiday from 10.30am until 5pm and visitors can climb to the top for great views of the town and surrounding countryside.

An action-packed market runs every Saturday from behind the tower, so you can use the Clock Tower as a vantage point from which to plot out which stalls you want to visit.

RATED RESTAURANT

The Silver Palate, a local deli just behind the Clock Tower, serves knock-out sandwiches and smoothies.

For something a little fancier, French restaurant Hazels puts some of London’s classiest dining spots to shame with its cracking sharing menu that changes weekly.

Expect dishes like smoked ham hock and Parmesan croquettes, as well as spiced lamb-ragu hummus.

Also drop into Glaze bakery for a pastry or dessert. You may recognise owner Oli from his witty videos on social media.

BEST BAR

The Boot, housed in a dinky Grade II-listed building, is slap-bang in the city centre.

But if the sun is shining, head to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which has an excellent pub garden that borders the park.

For something a little classier, Suckerpunch does sophisticated cocktails.

HOTEL PICK

McFly‘s Tom Fletcher and singer Rochelle Humes are among the stars who have stayed at swanky 5H hotel Sopwell House and enjoyed its lush spa.

Rooms there start from a hefty £329 per night, but for something a little less eyewatering, head to the Samuel Ryder Hotel.

This centrally located joint is part of the Hilton brand and has rooms from £149 per night. See hilton.com.

GOOD news for those who love a bargain break – The Sun’s Holidays from £9.50 are back

Hundreds of new affordable holidays will be added to the Club 950 website this week, including breaks in both the UK and Europe.

And if you are signed up to Sun Club, you will be able to bag yourself a holiday a whole day early – giving you priority when booking.

A range of dates will be available for last-minute holidays for 2026, as well as breaks to book ahead for 2027.

Even some popular holiday parks that have previously sold out will have new dates added to book.

Traditionally, Sun readers were able to book their £9.50 holiday by buying papers and collecting the codes that would appear in print over a series of days.

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And while this is still an option, there is a faster way to gain access to these £9.50 holidays.

If you sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 a month or £12 for a whole year, you can gain early access to the holidays on the £9.50 website.

Sun Club members will be able to access the new holidays a whole day early, from 00:01 on Tuesday, July 7.

Whereas everybody else, including those collecting codes or booking via Sun Savers, will have to wait until the morning on Wednesday, July 8.

Once you are a Sun Club member you simply click a link on the Sun Club offers hub to be taken straight through to the website, no codes needed.

And by logging in from one minute past midnight, you can be among the first to pick whichever holiday you’d like before they sell out.

There are hundreds of holiday parks to pick from on the Hols from £9.50 website, including popular UK parks and even beachfront resorts in places like Spain and Italy.

Some of the most popular UK holiday parks offered by Hols from £9.50 include Seal Bay in Chichester and Hendra in Newquay.

Holiday parks in Europe include the beachfront Playa Tropicana in Spain and Altomincio Family Park in Lake Garda.

But that’s not all for Sun Club members – there are plenty of other perks that come with signing up, too.

Sun Club members can claim free and discounted tickets to attractions and events across the UK, including top theme parks, darts nights and days out at the races.

In fact Tracy Kennedy, The Sun’s £9.50 Holiday Agony Aunt, saved £974 in one year on holidays and days out by being a Sun Club member.

Tracy totted up her savings from her £9.50 holidays as well as free and discounted attraction tickets, and was astonished to find out that she had saved herself nearly a grand across the year.

Current offers available for Sun Club members include up to 60% off West End shows, free racing tickets, and the cheapest tickets to Drayton Manor available anywhere.

There are also plenty of freebies up for grabs too, like free audiobooks, ebooks and a summer skincare bundle.

SUN Hols from £9.50 are back, with thousands more bargain breaks being released next week.

If you’re still looking to book an affordable holiday to look forward to with the family, then you’re in luck.

We’ve rounded up 9 of the top UK Hols from £9.50 resorts receiving NEW breaks to book from next week – and it turns out they are some of the most popular holiday parks among Sun readers.

BUT… if you want early access to be one of the first to bag a booking, then join Sun Club for £1.99 a month, or £12 for the year, as Sun Club members get priority access when booking.

Hols from £9.50 are set to be restocked on Wednesday, July 8, with thousands of new holidays available.

But if you want to book them earlier than anyone else, you should sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month, or £12 for the year.

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The UK seaside towns with their own theme parks where you can stay from £9.50

Sun Club members get access to the holidays from midnight on Tuesday, July 7, so will get the first pick of holidays.

Once you’re a member, go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find Hols From £9.50.

Follow the link from the offers page, and you can book your break from midnight on Tuesday, July 7.

Lighthouse Leisure

Two minutes’ walk from the beach and the picturesque lighthouse that gives this holiday park its name, Lighthouse Leisure is a well-located holiday park.

This family resort is in Dumfries, Scotland, a beautiful market town which sits on the Anglo-Scottish border.

Nearby family days out include meeting the animals at Dalscone Farm Fun, visiting impressive castles like Century Caerlaverock, and learning about the famous Scottish writer at the Robert Burns House.

The holiday park itself however has plenty to do, like an outdoor play park which kids love to climb and an entertainment lounge and bar that grown-ups love to retire to in the evenings.

And with family discos, bingo, karaoke nights and more, you’ll be sure to make some lasting family memories on holiday here.

Seal Bay Resort

Seal Bay was the number 1 most popular park with £9.50 holidaymakers last year, and you can still book a holiday there in time for this Easter.

With so many activities for families of all ages, it’s easy to see why this resort is such a big hit.

Kids can have a go on the park’s surfing simulator, tackle the climbing wall, or try their hand at digital darts, axe throwing and archery.

This resort sits smack-bang on the beachfront of Selsey, and accommodation includes everything from simple seaside caravans to luxurious glamping or beachfront pods.

All stays come with access to swimming pools and the resort’s top-rated entertainment, so there’s no need to fork out on extra passes.

Nearby there’s plenty of family attractions like the Harbour Park amusements and the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.

Hayling Island Holiday Park

Just east of Portsmouth, Hayling Island is packed with family activities and golden beaches to explore.

At Hayling Island Holiday Park, kids will love the on-site splash park, arcades and adventure playground.

Plus activities like a Wipeout inflatable course, disc golf and ‘Tough Mutter’ dog agility course are hard to find elsewhere!

The park comes alive at sunset with evening entertainment, which ranges from Glow Show DJ Battles to Freddie Fever, a celebration of the band Queen.

End the night by heading back to a luxury caravan with your own hot tub, and you’ve done holiday parks right.

Parkdean Resorts Landguard

Landguard is a tranquil town surrounded by forest and golden beaches, and this holiday park has direct access to its shores.

Parkdean Resorts Landguard offers touring and camping, as well as caravans and cosy wooden lodges that are a perfect fit for the woodland surroundings.

Entertainment here is of a high-standard, with Parkdean classics like the Krew animal characters hosting meet and greets, as well as unique options like slime and squishy toy-making.

Landguard is also only a stone’s throw from Parkdean Lower Hyde, and guests can enjoy double the fun and double the facilities between both parks.

Parkdean Resorts Naze Marine

Walton-on-the-Naze is a charming countryside town by the sea, with a soft sand beach, seafront gardensa and a vintage pier to stroll.

The relaxing town is also only a few minutes’ drive to Frinton-on-Sea, another old-fashioned seaside town with plenty of walking routes waiting to be explored.

Parkdean Resorts Naze Marine is the ideal base to explore both areas, with cosy caravans that make the perfect retreat after a day out exploring.

Plus the on-site entertainment is well worth a visit here, with PAW Patrol Mighty Missions and Milkshake! mornings being just two of the exciting kids’ shows on offer.

Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park

Billing Aqudrome in Northamptonshire is 235 acres of non-stop activities that kids will love.

Kids can get off their devices and in touch with nature with survival skills, den building, pond dipping, or by hopping on a paddle board or pedalo.

Plus there’s loads of other unique activities like BMX rides, dance classes and alpaca feeding.

Evening entertainment includes is all-singing and all-dancing, with fun extras like silent discos and a large outdoor amphitheatre with performances.

If you want to make the most of the nature, choose to stay in a cosy lakeside pod, or even bring your own tent to get back to basics.

And when it comes to food and drinks, there’s plenty kids will love, like the Bak’D & Swirls dessert shop and Smash’d Town burger restaurant. There’s also healthier options like grazing boards available, too.

Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm

Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm has plenty to do, including both an indoor and outdoor pool, kid-friendly evening shows and lively bingo nights.

This fuss-free resort has caravans and lodges that are fully equipped with everything you’ll need for a stay, plus there’s accessible and dog-friendly options, too.

This holiday park is just 10 minutes’ walk from Clacton-on-Sea, the ideal seaside town for a family holiday.

Here you can jump on fairground rides, eat fish and chips by the sea, or test your luck on arcade games on the pier or at Clacton Pavilion.

Parkdean Resorts Lower Hyde

Lower Hyde Holiday Park combines some of the very best in entertainment with a top location and plenty of food and drink options.

Sit down for a bite to eat at the family-friendly Barnhouse Bar and Restaurant, or grab a snack from the ever-popular Scoops ice cream parlour or Thunderbird Chicken shack.

Nearby you can pop into the cafes and shops of Sandown, or explore the beaches and coves of the rugged coastline.

This park is also close to the scenic town of Shanklin, where thatched-roof cottages line the picturesque old town.

Guests at Parkdean Lower Hyde can also use the facilities of the nearby Parkdean Landguard Holiday Park.

Parkdean Resorts Thorness Bay

Sat on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, Parkdean Resorts Thorness Bay is a top pick for those who love beautiful natural landscapes.

The park sits within woodlands overlooking the sea, with plenty of coastal trails and walks on your doorstep.

But this peaceful location isn’t short on exciting things to do – here kids can enjoy zipping down the slide into the heated indoor swimming pool, or burn off some energy at the adventure playground or the sports courts.

There’s delicious dinner options at the Fish and Chippery, and top entertainment and cocktails at the Regatta View Showbar.

And you can end the night by catching some z’s in a comfy chalet, lodge or safari tent.

YOU don’t need to jet off abroad to guarantee a golden tan this summer.

With summer 2026 already showing up as an absolute scorcher, most of us are itching to get out and soak up the rays while they last.

We’ve rounded up the sunniest spots in the UK that see nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine per year.

Plus we’ve paired each spot with a cheap hotel deal, so you can book yourself a budget-friendly seaside staycation this summer.

Bognor Regis, West Sussex

With over 1,900 hours of sunshine per year, Bognor Regis has been crowned as one of the sunniest places in Britain by the Met Office.

The seaside town has plenty to see and do, including a town centre packed with traditional sweet shops, book shops and boutiques.

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Make the most of the sunshine down at the seafront, where you’ll find a historic promenade train and traditional pier with its own arcade and casino.

You can also buy day passes to Butlin’s Bognor Regis, and make use of unlimited fairground rides and the indoor waterpark with a Helter Skelter waterslide.

Plus you could even have a go on the resort’s brand new giant claw machine, which has been awarded a Guinness World Record as the largest in the world.

For a cheap place to stay, Premier Inn have opened up a new hotel with fancy Premier Plus rooms right on the seafront.

Staying at the new hotel also gives you access to its glamorous lounge ‘The Social’, decked out with pink and neon decor, offering late night food and 2-for-1 cocktails.

Book a stay at the Premier Inn Bognor Regis from £102 per night.

Eastbourne, East Sussex

With a warm microclimate protected by the South Downs, Eastbourne consistently ranks as one of the sunniest places in the UK.

The town enjoys 1,890+ hours of sunshine per year, which is 500 more than the average UK town.

The seaside town is bursting with exciting attractions, like the rainbow-coloured Tower Art Gallery and Royal Hippodrome Theatre showing music and comedy events.

Soak up the sunshine with an ice cream out on the Victorian pier, or take a ride on the miniature steam railway through the 12-acre EMSR adventure park.

Plus the town’s three-mile stretch of beach is backed by pretty beach huts and dotted with deck chairs and loungers, giving you plenty of spots to sit and sunbathe.

Book a stay at the Pearl & Pebbles Eastbourne from £52 per night, or £26pp per night.

Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Shanklin in the Isle of Wight has been crowned as the sunniest place to live in the UK, seeing 1,976 hours of sunshine per year.

The picturesque seaside town is known for its pretty thatched roof cottages, traditional tearoom and quaint shops and cafes.

Shanklin Beach is a golden stretch of sand perfect for families with a beachfront chippy, ice cream shops and a pirate-themed mini golf.

There’s even a clifftop lift that will transport visitors down from the town centre to the esplanade, making this beach a great accessible option.

Visit nearby Shanklin Chine to see the island’s oldest tourist attraction – a wooded ravine with charming narrow paths and bridges that take you to see waterfalls.

Book a stay in The Belmont hotel from £109 per night, which also offers discounts for the ferry to and from the island.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

With an impressive 1,884 hours of sunshine per year, Southend consistently ranks as one of the sunniest destinations in the UK.

The seaside city is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, packed with restaurants, arcades, and kiosks selling sticks of rock and hot doughnuts.

You can brave the near two-mile walk out over the Thames Estuary, or simply hop on the quirky pier train to reach the very end for panoramic sea views.

You could also grab a wristband for Adventure Island for £30pp and make use of unlimited rollercoasters and fairground rides.

For a cheap place to stay, Premier Inn has a well-located hotel on the Eastern Esplanade, putting you just steps from the sand.

Book a stay at Premier Inn Southend On Sea (Eastern Esplanade) hotel from £52 per night.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

THIS summer, it looks like it’s time to call a truce on the great Spain vs. Turkey debate.

Because by looking at the latest booking data, I’ve noticed a massive change in 2026.

More and more Brits are swapping Europe’s traditional heavyweight resorts for a handful of Greek destinations.

These spots serve up the exact same sunshine, brilliant beaches, and all-inclusive value – often for a chunk less money.

And because I work in travel, my screen is basically permanently locked onto live price trends and capacity numbers.

The pattern right now is clear: holidaymakers are moving away from the usual high-premium hubs in Spain, the Canaries or the Turkish rivieras because Greece has suddenly become the ultimate value loophole.

A massive influx of flight capacity from the UK means you can bag that peak-summer Mediterranean experience without paying the usual school holiday markup.

If you want to know where the smart money is heading this summer, these are the seven Greek spots I’d be circling.

7. Ixia, Rhodes

If there’s one Greek resort that’s aggressively stealing traffic from the traditional Spanish and Turkish mainstays this summer, it’s Ixia.

Our data shows a massive wave of holidaymakers ditching the likes of Benidorm, Alanya, Costa Adeje, Costa Teguise, Marmaris, and Torremolinos specifically to head here.

It gives you that classic beach holiday setup people love, but with a slightly more premium edge, proper decent hotels, and historic Rhodes Old Town sitting just a ten-minute taxi ride down the road.

Plus, you get a constant coastal breeze, which makes the peak August heat infinitely more comfortable than the suffocating temperatures you get elsewhere.

I spotted five nights at the Belair Beach from Edinburgh on 21 August, with half board and flights included, from £375pp.

The hotel sits right across the road from the front, but the real insider perk here is their specialised windsurfing and water sports station directly on the sand.

Because Ixia is a world-class windsurfing hub, the hotel has gear hire sorted right on your doorstep, meaning you can try your hand at proper coastal sports for a fraction of what a commercial water sports center down the coast would fleece you for.

6. Ialyssos, Rhodes

Just around the bay from Ixia is Ialyssos, another Rhodes resort that’s turning into one of the island’s biggest success stories.

The booking data tells us that the crowds usually bound for Benidorm, Costa Adeje, Alanya, and Marmaris are pivoting here instead.

It offers the exact same guaranteed August sunshine you’re chasing in the western Med, but swaps the crowded strips for a much more relaxed, authentic village vibe and some brilliant, family-run apartment setups.

I found five nights at the Trianta Hotel Apartments from 19 August, with flights included, from £255pp.

Landing peak summer flights and accommodation for barely over two hundred and fifty quid is a massive result.

This property is notoriously highly rated by return guests, and the standout feature here is its poolside taverna nights.

Instead of serving up generic, mass-produced package food, the family that runs the place cooks up proper, home-style Greek mezze using vegetables grown in their own garden lot behind the apartments. It’s elite local dining on a shoestring budget.

5. Messonghi, Corfu

If you’re after somewhere that feels slower, greener, and a bit more rustic than the sprawling concrete mega-resorts, Messonghi is a top-tier shout.

And this year, it’s proving particularly popular with Brits swapping away from Benidorm, Costa Adeje, and Alanya.

Corfu‘s scenery is stunning, the beaches are incredibly calm, and a massive boost in regional UK flight routes this year has driven package prices right down into bargain territory.

One standout deal I spotted was five nights all inclusive at Canvas by Mitsis Messonghi from 20 August, with flights included, from £478pp.

And getting a fully loaded, peak-season Mitsis property under the £500 mark is an absolute steal.

The beachfront setting and massive pool complexes at this hotel are brilliant for keeping kids occupied, but what elevates this place above so many Spanish hotels for me is the complimentary, on-site aqua park.

They’ve integrated a proper mini waterpark into the resort grounds with zero entry fees, saving you from shelling out €40 a head for a public waterpark day trip into town.

4. Faliraki, Rhodes

Faliraki has completely reinvented its identity over the last decade.

While people of my generation might still associate it with rowdy 18-30 nightlife, today it’s quietly morphed into one of Rhodes‘ best all-round family beach resorts.

I’m seeing a huge influx of families swapping over from Benidorm, Marmaris, the Costa Blanca, and Alanya to secure one of the island’s widest sandy coastlines and a massive number of modern hotels.

I found five nights at the Hillside Studios from 25 August, with flights included, from £340pp. 

It serves as a brilliant, no-nonsense base with an immaculate pool area, but the secret benefit of this specific hotel is its location near the Erimokastro hills.

Because it sits just outside the central valley, the hotel offers an incredibly peaceful night’s sleep away from the main resort hum, and it puts you right on the doorstep of the hidden, cliff-sheltered Astron Beach cove – a spot most tourists completely miss!

3. Kiotari, Rhodes

If your main holiday priority is peace, quiet, and premium lounging, Kiotari is easily one of my favourite recommendations on the map.

More people are moving here from heavy-hitting hubs like Alanya in Turkey because the hotels feel noticeably more luxurious and modern than the older resort blocks elsewhere in the Med, serving up wide beaches, reliable sunshine, and massive all-inclusive footprints without the premium price tag.

One deal that stood out to me was five nights all inclusive at the Kiotari Miraluna Beach Resort from 19 August, with flights included, from £535pp.

My pick of the features at this resort is easily the cinema lounge.

They run open-air family movie nights right on the edge of the sand under the stars in the evening, which is a fantastic, high-end touch that lets you unwind with a drink by the waves while the kids are completely glued to a big screen.

2. Hersonissos, Crete

Crete never goes out of fashion, and Hersonissos remains the undisputed king of its value market.

Holidaymakers are increasingly swapping over from traditional mainstays like Benidorm and Marmaris, tempted by Crete’s reliable weather, lively waterfront, and massive choice of hotels.

It delivers that buzzing, lively atmosphere that Brits love, but pairs it with incredible independent tavernas, fascinating ancient history, and excellent flight availability from pretty much every major UK runway.

I spotted five nights at the Palatia Village Apartments from 20 August, with self-catering and flights included, from £283pp.

The hotel serves up fantastic, panoramic views across the bay, but the real selling point here is the traditional Cretan architecture of the rooms.

The apartments are styled like a mini, stone-walled Greek village rather than a sterile hotel corridor, meaning you get that high-end, boutique aesthetic for under three hundred quid.

1. Kavos, Corfu

Kavos might raise a few eyebrows on a value list, but the resort landscape here is changing rapidly.

Beyond the main neon strip, there is an influx of quieter, family-run properties that are drawing in couples and budget-conscious travellers who simply want cheap sun without the chaos.

And these great summer prices are driving a massive spike in people swapping here instead of choosing Spain’s traditional budget resorts.

A deal that really caught my eye was five nights at the Oula Maisonettes from 25 August, with self-catering and flights included, from just £235pp.

This is a small, family-run complex that heavily over-delivers for the money.

The absolute best feature here is the independent duplex layout of the maisonettes themselves.

Having your living area completely separate from the upstairs sleeping quarters gives you a proper apartment feel, allowing you to relax on your private terrace with a cold drink after the kids have gone to bed without waking them up.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

WITH summer in full swing, there’s nothing quite like packing a bag and heading off to explore the best of Britain on a staycation.

But you don’t need to empty your wallet to enjoy a brilliant break this year.

Best Western has 200+ great value hotels across the UK, plus they are currently offering FREE breakfast on selected 2026 breaks if you book them before July 31.

Click here to browse which Best Western hotels are offering free breakfast, which includes hundreds of country houses, seaside hotels and city stays across the UK.

Not only this, but they have put together special staycation packages which they call GEMS – which stands for Great Escapes, Memorable Stays.

These are specially-curated breaks that include your stay, food, as well as special experiences like cocktail masterclasses, family activities and spa treatments.

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We’ve rounded up the most exciting, best-value staycations across the UK that you can book with Best Western with very affordable rates.

From 80’s disco weekenders to wellness weekends by the sea, here’s our round-up of the best-value Best Western breaks this summer.

80’s party night – The Hatfield Hotel, Lowestoft

Lowestoft‘s original 80’s party night is taking place on the weekend of September 26-27 – and a stay at this Best Western hotel comes with a free ticket.

Spend your Saturday night boogieing to Chica DJ’s 80’s anthems, which range from famous rock and pop songs to sing-your-heart-out ballads.

Book a stay at Best Western’s Hatfield Hotel for your ticket, a comfy place to stay right on the seafront, and free breakfast included in the morning.

Stays start from £103.68 per night.

The Art of Mixology Escape – Abbots Barton Hotel, Canterbury

If cocktail classes and fresh stone-baked pizzas are up your street, then opt for this package stay at the Abbots Barn Hotel.

Once you’ve checked in, guests will head to The John in Canterbury, where you can take part in a cocktail masterclass and sit down to sip your own creations. Plus the prosecco on arrival truly sweetens the deal.

This stay also includes a delicious stone-baked pizza for dinner, plus a Full English breakfast with all the trimmings in the morning.

Make sure to spend time in the hotel itself, which is a grand Victorian Gothic property surrounded by two acres of peaceful, manicured gardens.

Stays start from £229.49 per night.

Wellness weekend – The Kings Arms, Christchuch

Treat yourself to a wellness weekend at The Kings Arms hotel in Christchurch, Dorset this summer.

This GEM stay lets you pick a wellness treat from a 60-minute sauna session on Avon Beach, or a yoga or pilates class.

The relaxing stay also includes a free gift from Bramley and midday check out so you can enjoy a slow start in the morning.

Stays start from £131.97 per night.

Coastal escape – Hotel Collingwood, Bournemouth

Enjoy a three-night stay in sunny Bournemouth at Hotel Collingwood, a BW Signature Collection hotel with a luxurious feel.

This break includes a decadent three-course dinner each night as well as fresh Full English breakfasts in the morning, plus the Bubble Lounge Bar is the perfect classy spot to enjoy a cocktail or two.

Guests will also get full access to the Eden Spa, which has a pool, sauna and hydrotherapy treatments. You’ll also get 25 per cent off any spa treatments, so make sure to book yourself in for a massage.

Plus it’s easy to get out and discover Bournemouth with a 24-hour hop-on, hop-off bus ticket included with your stay.

Stays start from £180 per night.

Family stay with soft play – Centurion Hotel, Somerset

Two adults and one child can set off on a family staycation this summer at the Best Western Plus Centurion Hotel in Somerset.

This hotel has its own soft play on-site, Planet Volt, where little ones can slide, climb, and crawl to their heart’s content.

The hotel is also in an ideal location for countryside walks, where you can explore tranquil riverside and woodland trails as a family.

Then return to a comfortable and spacious family-sized room, and enjoy freshly-cooked breakfasts in the morning, included in your stay.

Stays start from £124.81 per night.

DREAMING of a luxurious 5-star all-inclusive holiday, but not wanting to break the bank?

It turns out you don’t need to fork out on Ibiza, Mykonos or Saint Tropez to lounge at a glamorous beach club or enjoy a five-star stay this year.

Luckily, there are some lesser-known European spots where you can live the high life on holiday for much less.

We’re talking glittering marinas, trendy rooftop bars, boat trips on clear water bays and beaches that look like the world’s most expensive hotspots – but for a fraction of the price.

With cocktails under £3 and shockingly affordable five-star stays, here are the holiday spots where your money goes the furthest.

Durres, Albania

If you want a holiday that feels like five-star luxury without the price tags of Ibiza or Mykonos, Durres feels like the ultimate cheat code.

This stunning stretch of the Adriatic coast has quickly transformed into a high-end hotspot packed with glam beachfront clubs and bars.

Head to Sunset Bar for an outdoor drinking spot that lets the views do all the talking – and where cocktails cost as little as 300 lek (£2.75).

Here, comfy striped sofas look out to a stretch of glimmering sea on Albania‘s Adriatic coast that has fantastic sunsets.

Another affordable but luxurious spot is Illyrian Garden, a 360° rooftop bar with a secret garden-themed terrace.

Cocktails here start at 500 lek, which works out to roughly £4.60.

It’s also worth visiting this spot in the daytime to sip a strong local coffee and soak up the rays.

Plus, the hotels in Durres offer a luxurious, five-star feel for a fraction of the price. We found a deal for an all-inclusive week away that works out to £62pp per night.

Turquoise Coast, Turkey

For a taste of the high life that won’t drain your savings, Turkey’s sun-drenched Turquoise Coast offers spectacular value.

There are plenty of holiday spots to pick from along the Turkish coast, but there are two particularly affordable areas.

Antalya is the king of the mega resort – here, ultra all-inclusive packages mean round-the-clock pampering, top-tier dining, and huge pool complexes for low prices.

It’s a fantastic area for families, with the Land of Legends theme park resort on your doorstep in Belek, as well as unique attractions like the Antalya Toy Museum and shallow water beaches like Lara Beach.

If you prefer a chic escape with glitzy bars and a vibrant marina, head to the Aegean side to Bodrum.

Bodrum delivers a Saint Tropez feel on a budget, with a waterfront lined with glamorous bars and lounges facing yachts.

It’s hard to go wrong whichever spot you choose on the Turquoise Coast. A budget-friendly meal out averages at £5.88 in Bodrum and £6.20 in Antalya, according to Wise.

Hurghada, Egypt

Red Sea hotspot Hurghada is a great-value alternative to further flung destinations, offering year-round sunshine and affordable all-inclusive hotels.

Away from the resorts, you can snorkel world-famous pristine reefs, or set sail to the sandy Giftun Islands and go dolphin watching on a boat trip that can cost as little as £20.

Considering you have endless soft sand beaches and exciting water activities on your doorstep, prices here are surprisingly cheap.

According to Wise, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant averages at £2.82, and a beer can cost you as little as 83p.

Plus there’s plenty of attractions here for families, including waterparks like Jungle Aqua Park and Makadi Water World, as well as activities like parasailing and dune buggies on sites such as GetYourGuide.

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

For jaw-dropping landscapes, reliable sunshine and luxurious hotels for cheap, try a trip to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.

The scenery here has the dramatic feel of the Norwegian fjords, mixed with the sunshine and glamour of the Italian lakes.

The crystal-clear bay is framed by towering limestone cliffs, backed by cobblestone medieval towns such as Kotor and Perast – perfect for an afternoon of exploring.

Montenegro itself remains incredibly wallet-friendly compared to other European spots with dramatic landscapes, such as Switzerland.

Head to the Old Town Pub Kotor for €5 (£4.31) cocktails, and go out for dinner guilt-free with your pick of budget-friendly restaurants. A meal out can cost you just £8.63 per person, according to Wise.

You can easily spend your days here cruising on water taxis for less than a tenner or simply hiking and exploring beautiful coastal trails completely for free.

Plus, you can absolutely book yourself into a super sleek all-inclusive hotel on a budget.

Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria

Sveti Vlas sits on Bulgaria‘s Black Sea coast, where the green slopes of the Balkan Mountains sweep down to the water.

This sophisticated pocket of Bulgaria is the classy, tranquil sibling to the neighbouring party hub of Sunny Beach.

Explore the buzz of the Marina Dinevi, where you can stroll past yachts, dine at waterfront restaurants, and lounge at trendy beach clubs that mimic the upscale vibes of Marbella or Ibiza.

Soul Beach Bar offers huge, pristine white daybeds on the sand with fresh fruit cocktails and glowing lanterns.

Renting a sunbed here costs a super-affordable 10 – 15 BGN (around £4 – £6) per person per day.

Because your money goes incredibly far here, you can tuck into fresh seafood platters, sip cocktails on plush daybeds and grab those Instagram pictures guilt-free.

We found a deal for a week-long all-inclusive stay in a five-star hotel in Sveti Vlas for £57 per person per night.

*Prices correct at the time of publication

ANYONE who’s looked at holiday prices over the last few years will know one thing: summer getaways haven’t exactly been getting cheaper.

But this year, a big change in booking habits has completely blown the market wide open.

Because British holidaymakers are playing chicken with the calendar and leaving bookings later than ever, airlines and hotels are staring down a reduced summer capacity.

So, rather than flying empty seats and leaving hotel rooms vacant, some airlines and hotel operators are aggressively cutting prices across the board to get bookings in and holidays shifted.

Before we start, though, I should say that not EVERY destination is seeing price drops like this.

But when I crunched the numbers on package data for a family of four, I noticed that some of the year-on-year drops are massive.

So here’s where the prices are falling fastest for summer 2026…

Menorca: £536 cheaper than last year

If you’ve never been to Menorca, imagine everything people love about Majorca and Ibiza… but with the volume turned down.

It has always been a major winner for families because it’s incredibly safe, relaxed, and completely skips the club-heavy energy of its neighbours.

The big news is the pricing: our data shows family holidays here are trending noticeably down compared to last summer.

I flagged a seven-night stay at the Minura Sur Menorca on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Manchester on 22 August, from £858pp – which is a massive £536 cheaper than this exact package last year.

For a destination that traditionally sells out and hikes its rates in August, finding an all-inclusive setup under these numbers is a serious win against the usual school-holiday tax.

The hotel itself is a brilliant family workhorse on the outskirts of Punta Prima with massive pools and a splash park that will easily keep the kids occupied for hours.

If you’ve got a young family like me, my favourite thing about this property is that they run a free, regular shuttle bus straight down to the beach throughout the summer.

It saves you from dragging hot, tired kids and a mountain of beach gear on a 15-minute trek in the August heat.

Paphos, Cyprus: £246 cheaper than last year

Paphos is a super-reliable destination that absolutely nails the holiday basics.

You get guaranteed scorching weather, great beaches, and a vibrant harbour front packed with tavernas and bars, without feeling overcommercialised.

And when I took a look, I noticed that prices are down sharply across the resort, making it an ideal window for a bargain.

You can lock in seven nights at the Kefalos Damon Hotel Apartments on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Glasgow on 22 August, from £623pp, saving £246 compared to last summer.

Cyprus has some of the longest, most reliable sunshine windows in Europe, which usually means paying a massive premium to secure an August departure.

Snagging this deal lets you bypass that peak-season markup while keeping food and drinks entirely off the daily spreadsheet.

What makes this place stand out for me is the quality of the recent modern room upgrades.

They’ve kitted the apartments out with brilliant, fully functioning kitchenettes, which means you have a high-spec, contemporary space to retreat to.

This is a massive step up from the dated, basic apartments you usually get saddled with on a budget European getaway.

Crete, Greece: £172 cheaper than last year

Crete is a massive island that handles every type of holidaymaker, but for families, it’s a brilliant choice because you can have completely different holiday experiences depending on where you pitch up.

The great news for the budget, though, is that pricing across the island seems to have headed south for late bookings.

I spotted a seven-night stay at the Bali Beach & Sofia Village hotel on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Bristol on 22 August, from £468pp – knocking £172 off last year’s price.

Greece in peak August for under £500 per person with all your food and beer thrown in is an absolute gift, by the way.

What I loved about this place was that they run free, weekly Greek cooking lessons hosted directly by the hotel’s executive kitchen chef.

It’s a brilliant, authentic touch where you can actually learn how to whip up proper local specialities, which is exactly the kind of genuine, cultural insight you never expect to get from a standard all-inclusive package property.

Gran Canaria: £179 cheaper than last year

Gran Canaria is perfect for Brits because the weather is spot on all year round.

As a destination, it handles families, couples, and groups effortlessly, and right now the value across the island is dropping back into our favour for this summer.

One standout deal I saw in the data was seven nights at the Maspalomas Oasis Club on an all inclusive basis, flying from Dublin on 22 August, from £410pp – making it £179 cheaper than last year.

The Canary Islands usually command a massive premium in August because they are a safe bet for sun, but this price point lets you dodge that summer-holiday markup.

The real winner at this hotel is the food quality at the buffet, which you’ll be delighted to learn, completely dodges the lukewarm, processed repetitive food sometimes associated with cheaper all-inclusives.

Instead, they have live show-cooking stations at dinner, where the chefs grill fresh meats and fish directly to your order, right in front of you.

Getting proper, freshly seared food on an all-inclusive budget under £450 is an absolute steal.

Dubai: £135 cheaper than last year

Dubai probably isn’t the first spot you associate with price drops, which is exactly why the numbers caught my eye straight away.

Yes, August in the UAE is hot, but that’s exactly why the luxury hotels open up the discount books, with summer family packages dropping well below their usual rates.

Plus, they have some of the best air conditioning in the world.

I clocked seven nights at the Jumeira Rotana on an all-inclusive basis, flying from London Gatwick on 22 August, from £720pp – a drop of £135 against last year.

For Dubai, getting a full all-inclusive package at this price point is a total anomaly.

It means you can indulge in the city’s notoriously expensive dining scene without worrying about a massive bill at check-out.

My pick of features at this hotel though is its rooftop pool – it’s a corker.

It gives you a fantastic, elevated view of the Dubai skyline while you cool off.

And because the hotel is a smaller, more boutique property by Dubai standards, the staff actually bring chilled towels and refreshments straight to your lounger.

It feels incredibly attentive without the chaotic, impersonal hustle of the massive beachfront mega resorts.

Hurghada, Egypt: £107 cheaper than last year

If your absolute main priority, like me, is stretching your cash as far as humanly possible, Hurghada is incredibly tough to beat.

The Red Sea is legendary for its crystal-clear water, and the resorts here offer far more facilities per pound spent than almost anywhere else in the Med, with prices sliding down again this season.

So imagine my face when I saw this deal: seven nights at the El Karma Aqua Beach Resort on an all-inclusive basis, flying from Belfast on 22 August, from £578pp, saving you £107 on last year’s price tag.

The value loop here is simple: you get a massive beachfront resort with its own massive on-site waterpark thrown in for under £600, keeping the kids entertained all week without you ever needing to pull out your wallet.

What I love about this specific place is that they offer swim-up rooms where you can literally step out of your patio doors and straight into a crystal-clear pool channel.

It gives you that premium, luxury resort privilege where you can entirely skip the morning sunbed race and slide straight into the water from your own terrace.

A WELSH seaside town has been put on the map globally thanks to two very famous celebrities spotted there this week.

Singer Kylie Minogue and Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino have been seen in the pretty seaside town of Porthcawl.

It isn’t for a holiday – but for filming upcoming movie called Tangled in the Blue, directed by Welsh filmmaker Jamie Adams.

They were caught going to the Saltwater Inn pub, where onlookers said the celebrities “laughed and sang together” for a scene.

Other nearby sightings include at Newton Church, being used for a funeral scene in the film, and at Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff.

But Porthcawl itself is a popular beach town even without the endorsements of the mega stars, with seven bays and two Blue Flag beaches – Rest Bay and Trecco Bay.

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When The Sun’s Emma Glanfield visited the seaside town, she called it the perfect alternative for an exotic break.

She said: “Porthcawl, the ‘jewel of South  Wales‘ has the lot. A spectacularly cragged coastline and a swathe of sandy beaches, kissed by sparkling seas – and all just a stone’s throw from the mountains.

“OK, so it might not be the Caribbean, but it does offer fun and frolics for those on a budget.”

“We kicked off activities in Rest Bay. Our morning surf lesson with the brilliant Hugh woke us up quicker than you could say ‘coffee‘.”

Emma continued: “Within two hours we’d gone from complete beginners to standing up and catching waves.

“Who needs the Maldives when this precious little corner of the UK packs such a punch?”

Also in Porthcawl is Trecco Bay, the UK’s largest holiday park when it comes to pitches – and in Europe too.

Along with 2,000 caravans (which can welcome up to 50,000 guests during peak holiday periods) also on-site is a huge entertainment plaza with everything from crazy golf and high ropes to a swimming pool and splash pad.

There’s a bowling alley and for older kids the Next Level Gaming Arena has over 25 consoles including PS5 and Xbox.

Other outdoor activities include archery, hover boards, bumper zorbs and there are even pedal karts to get around.

The park puts on shows, and there’s even Paw Patrol Mighty Missions for little ones.

The holiday park has all the essential facilities like restaurants, cafes, bars, there’s also a launderette, supermarket and even a chapel.

When the sun is shining, guests can enjoy the sprawling sandy Blue Flag beach right on its doorstep.

A four-night stay across this weekend in a Bronze two bedroom caravan which sleeps four people works out to £405 – or £25.31pppn.

If you fancy making a week’s holiday (from June 27 – July 4), then this works out as just £16.40pppn.

Or, sign up with Sun Club and you could stay at Trecco Bay from £9.50.

LOOKING forward to a seaside staycation with the family this summer?

It can be hard to know where to book your next UK seaside holiday. With many Brits picking the same overcrowded spots, you can soon feel like you’re fighting for every square inch of sand on the beach.

Luckily, there are plenty of off-the-radar stunning seaside towns and villages where you can enjoy a summer holiday without the crowds.

We’ve gathered travel insiders from Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk and Kent to share their favourite lesser-known holiday spots – with cheap pints, quiet beaches and stays from £30 a night.

Norfolk

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

I grew up on the North West Norfolk coast, going quay jumping and crabbing after school with my friends.

Over the years, I’ve seen tourists flock to the same overcrowded spots time and again, while some of the prettiest towns and villages stay pretty much deserted.

While Cromer and Great Yarmouth make for great cheap and cheerful holidays, there are much prettier and less crowded options further west along the coast.

Wells-next-the-Sea is the picture-perfect seaside town. Walking down the high street, Staithe Street, feels like stepping back in time.

You’ll wander past an old-fashioned butcher’s, bakery and greengrocers on your downhill stroll towards the sea – plus plenty of trinket shops selling seashell earrings or buckets and spades.

The high street leads to the picturesque quay, where the Victorian Granary gantry jets out over the water, and you can watch fishermen haul in fresh catches throughout the day.

Here you’ll find the old-fashioned Pop Inn Amusements, a sweet shop selling giant lollies and classic sticks of rock, plus my favourite surfer dude-feel coffee shop, Wills of Wells.

Not to mention the fact that there’s a massive, golden, award-winning beach lined with colourful beach huts backed by a sprawling pine forest.

There’s a large beachside cafe too, plus you can stay by the sea at the Pinewoods Holiday Park, with camping and touring pitches from £30 per night.

While Wells is absolutely worth visiting, tourists have certainly caught on to its charm.

Further into West Norfolk, there are small towns and villages that offer true peace and quiet – where your only neighbours are grazing sheep.

Some of these best-kept secrets are Fring, Shernborne, Wolferton and Anmer.

They’re the kind of remote, rural villages perfect for a countryside walk where you won’t pass anyone but horse riders out on a hack.

Stay at nearby Bircham Windmill, where there are camping pitches for £36 a night.

In fact, this site makes for a fantastic family day out, where you can bake your own bread from scratch for £3.95 and climb up to the top of the mill for stunning views of the surrounding villages and fields.

Although it’s quiet, there’s plenty more to do nearby. Bottle feed lambs and hand feed deer at Snettisham Park, tour the royal grounds of Sandringham Estate, or sit down for a pint of local ale in the gloriously British pub The Rose and Crown.

Devon

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Devon or Cornwall? I’m here to tell you don’t need to look further than Devon – with fewer crowds, heaps of beaches and the quaintest of villages, nothing quite beats it.

As a born and bred Devonian, one spot I will always shout about is the English Riviera.

Formed of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, the coastal towns boast an unusual micro-climate for the UK that has allowed palm trees to thrive.

Named after the French Riviera, you can expect a similar vibe but for a fraction of the price.

Stay at the newly opened £20 million seafront Hotel Indigo by IHG in Torquay from £74 per night (and there are dog-friendly rooms) – you can’t get closer to the sea with only a road separating you from the beach.

From the hotel, stroll down to Abbey Sands Beach, where you will find red-pink sand backed by a green area and the famous Torre Abbey, which you can visit for £11pp.

On the other side of Abbey Sands, walk around the harbour, which is currently under development to make it into a swish seaside hub of restaurants and cafes.

Drop by Pier Point for some fish and chips on the way – which are often voted best in the country.

For more traditional and quieter seaside towns, head to Dawlish or Teignmouth, where you will find seaside arcades and cheap cafes selling freshly made Devonshire delicacies such as pasties and cream teas.

It’s not all about the seaside in Devon, though – Dartmoor National Park sprawls over 368-square-miles with over 160 rocky tors, ideal for lengthy country walks with dramatic views.

One of the most accessible spots is Haytor, where you can head up to the tor from a car park – and don’t worry, it isn’t too steep a climb – and then nearby check out Haytor Quarry, which appears frozen in time with disused machinery still present.

Keep an eye out for wild ponies too, of which there are about 1,500.

For a historic spot – head to Exeter – a university city with a sandstone cathedral and bustling high street.

The city even has links to Harry Potter as J.K. Rowling once studied there, and it is thought that she based Diagon Alley on Gandy Street in the city centre.

For another unique spot, pop to Totnes – a town that has often been noted for its hippie lifestyle, free of big brands and chains.

Drop by on a Friday or Saturday to catch the antiques and food market, for bargain finds and huge Lebanese wraps setting you back a tenner (but big enough for two!).

In the North of the county, head to Woolacombe for the perfect holiday park break.

You could head to Golden Coast Holiday Park, for example, which costs from £219 for a seven-night break for a family of four – so just £7.83 per person per night.

The beach stretches over three miles, and there is an abundance of holiday parks around the town, many of which have evening entertainment, hot tubs on chalet decks and indoor and outdoor pools.

Kent

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Kent has seen a huge resurgence in recent years, aided by the pandemic, which saw thousands of people leave the Big Smoke for sunnier and sandier climes.

As one of the many who did so, I’ve since lived in both Folkestone and Margate, which are both on the rise as trendy destinations.

(I have a soft spot for both Whitstable and Deal as well, although both are much more established seaside towns).

When it comes to Margate, there are two new boutique hotels, Fort Road Hotel and No.42 Guesthouse, which have opened in recent years, the latter of which has a fantastic rooftop bar in the summer.

I love heading to the George & Heart pub just outside of the Old Town, or Rose In June for a cosy pub pint.

If you want a bit of weird and wonderful, make sure to hit up the Shell Grotto – whose origin remains a mystery – or the Crab Museum, free to visit and the largest crab museum in Europe.

Both the Turner Museum and Dreamland are free too, so you can easily visit on a budget.

The tidal lido is worth the trek, and you’ll be joined more by locals than tourists, but hop in before warming up with a coffee and sauna session.

But to me, Folkestone is winning on all sides.

It’s 52 minutes by train from London; you’ll never have to fight for space on the massive beach; it has the UK’s biggest beach sauna; it has so much art, including a Banksy – the hooks are endless.

Live music takes place at the Harbour Arms most weekends, and I highly recommend the Sunset Sessions at The Tasting Rooms for three courses and live jazz for £35.

Chase it with some oysters and a glass of champagne in The Lighthouse Champagne Bar – and you can even see France on a clear day.

Perhaps controversial, but even the touristy Good Yard food market is well worth a visit. No tourist traps here!

For an affordable place to stay, The View Hotel Folkstone has rooms from £67 per night.

Cornwall

Travel Writer, Katy Bright

Growing up in Cornwall, I’ve always had plenty of pretty places to explore. If I had to plan the perfect day in my home county, here are some places I would not miss.

Start the day off right with one of the best breakfasts around. Bude cafe The Coffee Pot offers £5 breakfasts with bacon, eggs, sausages and a hash brown, which cannot be faulted.

I may be biased, but I think Boscastle truly is one of the most beautiful places in the UK.

It’s a peaceful seaside sanctuary with a fascinating witchy history and beautiful walks, such as the one to Willapark Lookout.

Plus, it offers some of the best pub grub around – you’ve got to try the Cobweb Inn’s steak and ale pie (£13.95). Wash it down with a traditional Cornish ale.

Many tourists, of course, flock here, so it is important to learn to avoid the tourist traps.

Newquay, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Cornwall, is just way too busy during school breaks.

If you’d like to visit, I would definitely recommend going outside of the school summer holidays, when it is quieter, and the queues are much less manic.

If you are a coffee or matcha fanatic, Blend makes some of the best drinks I’ve ever tasted. Their banana bread iced matcha is a personal favourite of mine.

Something we all look for in a holiday to Cornwall is the best spots with a pint and a view – and my top pick for this is Trebarwith Strand’s, Port William.

A pub perched over the sea, it even offers cosy rooms for guests to stay in.

If you visit between mid-April and early May, you’ll be in my home county for one of my favourite events of the year.

Although it sits right on the border of Cornwall and Devon (so some may be a bit offended by me putting it in this list!) Strawberry Field Lifton’s ‘Tulip Fest’ makes for a very wholesome day out.

Picture a field full of half a million multicoloured tulip bulbs. There is something about walking around a field of endless tulips that just feels so whimsical.

An underrated place to stay is Whitsand Bay Fort holiday park. It’s very highly rated in online reviews, and it’s no surprise to me as a local – this is one of the best places to stay around.

Open all year, it offers both rooms and tent pitches with amazing views of Whitsand Bay. Pitches start at £15 a night, making it a super affordable and proper Cornish alternative to other popular places to stay.

IF you’ve spent the last few months telling yourself you’ll book your summer holiday “next week,” don’t panic. You’re in good company.

This year, British holidaymakers are leaving it later than ever to lock in their summer breaks.

Normally, playing chicken with the calendar is terrible news for your bank balance. But right now, I’m seeing something interesting.

Because summer is staring us down, hotels with empty beds and airlines with empty seats are gently slashing prices to get bookings over the line.

And the result is some genuinely surprising short-haul beach bargains are sitting on the board for under £400pp.

I’ve crunched the numbers and picked out ten spots where your late-booking budget will stretch way further than you think.

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

If you want a completely foolproof option, Lanzarote rarely misses.

Puerto del Carmen is an absolute staple, and right now, it’s delivering significantly better value than a lot of mainland Spanish resorts.

You get the reliable Canary sun, decent beaches, and enough life going on that you won’t get bored.

I spotted a five-night stay at the THB Flora from £370pp this August.

What makes this hotel a solid pick for me is the location – it’s close enough to the main strip when you want a drink, but tucked far enough away that you aren’t fighting a crowd just to claim a sunbed in the morning.

Icmeler, Turkey

Icmeler has always been the smarter, slightly more sophisticated neighbour to Marmaris.

The bay is stunning, the beach is framed by pine hills, and it completely avoids the chaotic mega-resort energy you find elsewhere in Turkey.

And this year, it’s consistently overdelivering for the price.

Case in point: five nights at the Petunya Konak Boutique Hotel is coming in from £385pp this August.

This hotel feels way more boutique than your standard package hotel too.

The pool setup is hidden away in the gardens, giving you a level of quiet that is gold dust during peak August.

Cavtat, Croatia

Dubrovnik may be grabbing all the headlines these days, but Cavtat remains one of Croatia‘s smartest-value coastal towns.

It serves up the exact same crystal-clear Adriatic water and postcard waterfront dining, just minus the suffocating levels of tourism.

If you’ve never done Croatia, a five-night stay at the Epidaurus Hotel from £385pp this August is a brilliant place to start.

The real win here is the logistics: you’re perfectly placed to enjoy Cavtat’s laid-back vibe, but you can hop on a quick boat ride into Dubrovnik whenever you fancy a bit of sightseeing.

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

Lagos might just be my favourite corner of the Algarve.

It manages to balance unreal, cliff-backed beaches and a character-packed old town without feeling like a plastic tourist trap.

Finding peak summer deals here under the 400-quid mark is a massive result.

I dug up five nights at the Aqualuz Suite Hotel Apartamentos from £388pp this August.

And the selling point at this hotel, for me, is space. Because you get an apartment setup to actually spread out in, while still being an easy stroll from both the sand and Lagos’ top-notch independent restaurant scene.

Qawra, Malta

Malta doesn’t always get the attention it deserves for a summer beach break, which on this occasion plays into the hands of us holiday deal finders.

Because it offers guaranteed scorching weather, great swimming spots, and some of the warmest evening temperatures in Europe.

If you’re bored of the usual Spain or Turkey rotation, it’s a top shout.

You can grab five nights at the Best Western Premier Malta from £295pp this August.

And frankly, this place looks and feels much more expensive than the price tag suggests.

The rooftop pool alone looks like it belongs to a luxury city-break hotel rather than a budget summer deal.

Puerto Pollensa, Majorca, Spain

If you want Majorca but want to skip the neon lights and rowdy strips, Puerto Pollensa on the north coast is tough to beat.

It’s got a beautiful, relaxed bay and a classic, old-school Mediterranean feel.

I’ll be honest – this is normally a premium area, but 2026 keeps throwing curveballs that I love catching.

Because I found a five-night stay at the Club del Sol Aparthotel from £393pp this August, giving you a foothold in one of the prettiest, most civilized parts of the island while keeping your budget completely under control.

Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, Spain

Gran Canaria is a reliable destination for Brits for a reason.

If you’re scrambling for a last-minute getaway, Playa del Ingles is an easy win thanks to its massive beach and lively town center – this place is built for convenience.

I clocked five nights at the Servatur Waikiki from £400pp this August.

It’s right on the money in terms of location too, as you’re close to the beach, close to the nightlife, and it serves as a great, no-nonsense base for a classic sun-and-beer holiday.

Elounda, Crete, Greece

Elounda is proof that you don’t need a luxury budget to stay in one of Crete’s most scenic spots.

It’s known for its clear waters and charming little harbour, and is exactly the kind of place that usually charges a premium just for the view.

However, I spotted a five-night stay at the Alikes Hotel Apartments from £373pp this August.

And this hotel puts you right in the heart of the village, so you can easily wander between the tavernas and waterfront bars without needing to budget for taxis.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

Bulgaria has been sneakily dominating the budget travel market for years, and while Sunny Beach is famous for being cheap, the actual standard of the hotels has shot up recently.

Which now puts the destination in a perfect spot – overdelivering on quality compared to what you pay.

Just look at this: I found a five-night stay at the Lion Sunny Beach from £388pp this August.

And this place perfectly highlights what modern Bulgaria does well: it’s contemporary, stylish, and comfortable, without ever making you feel like you’ve compromised just to save a few quid.

Vlore, Albania

If there’s one destination you need to look at before everyone else ruins it (sorry), it’s Albania.

The Albanian Riviera has been gaining serious traction in the last couple of years, and Vlore sits right in the perfect spot.

The beaches are stellar, the water rivals Greece, but the prices haven’t caught up with the quality yet.

But in my experience, that window won’t stay open forever.

This summer, you can lock in five nights at the Valza Boutique Hotel from £388pp in August.

It’s a sleek, boutique property that you’d easily pay double for if it were sitting across the water in Italy or Croatia.

My advice? Get this one booked before the rest of the UK finds out.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

FOR years, summer holidays followed a pretty rigid formula: book a week somewhere hot, find a beach, find a pool, and spend seven days rotating between the two.

But this year, the data is showing a change that I find really interesting.

More and more people – families included – are looking at the price tags of traditional, single-resort beach holidays and feeling like they’re being rinsed.

When a standard week in the Med easily climbs to £700, £800, or even £1,000 per person in 2026, a city beach break becomes the ultimate loophole.

You still get the sand, the sun, and the tan – but you also get proper restaurants, nightlife, and culture for a fraction of the cost.

Here are the seven city-beach crossovers I’d genuinely put my own money toward this summer.

7. Copenhagen, Denmark – from £193pp

Copenhagen might sound like a massive wildcard, but it’s actually one of Europe’s best-kept summer secrets.

When the weather hits the low 20s, everyone in the city practically lives outdoors, canalside bars stay packed, and everyone is diving into the harbour clean-water swimming spots.

I found three nights at the Scandic Sydhavnen flying from Edinburgh for £193pp.

Traditional beach packages charge a massive premium in August just because they have a monopoly on the coastline, but Copenhagen flips that layout – you’re paying bottom-dollar for the flight and hotel because it’s technically a city break window.

Yes, Denmark can be pricey when you’re buying a beer, but starting with a sub-£200 bill offsets the spending money before you even land.

For a proper beach day, head straight to Amager Strandpark, a massive two-mile stretch of white sand where you get a brilliant view of the Oresund Bridge while sunbathing.

6. Nice, France – from £230pp

The French Riviera usually conjures up images of billionaires, superyachts, and remortgaging your house for a salad.

Nice, however, is the exception to the rule if you play it smart.

You still get the iconic promenades and pastel Old Town streets, all without the Saint Tropez price tag.

I spotted three nights at the Aparthotel Adagio Access Nice Magnan from London Stansted for £230pp.

Plus in Nice, because it’s a living, breathing city, you can bypass the overpriced tourist traps on the front and eat like a local at the independent bakeries just two streets back.

The main beach strip is great, but walk east past the port to Plage de la Réserve – a tiny, rocky hidden cove where you can escape the crowds and swim in crystal-clear water.

5. Palermo, Sicily – from £210pp

Italy has become notoriously expensive over the last few years, but Sicily is where the smart money goes.

Palermo gives you a beautiful mix of historic grit, world-class street food, and access to proper sandy beaches just down the road. It’s got Capri’s charm, but on a €3-a-beer budget.

You can grab three nights at Villa D’Amato flying from London Luton for £210pp, including breakfast.

Landing a hotel that throws in breakfast on an Italian island for just over £200 is a serious result.

But the real money-saver is Palermo’s legendary street food scene. You can fill up on incredible arancini and panelle for pennies in the local markets, avoiding the eye-watering sit-down dinner bills that plague the Amalfi Coast.

When you want to hit the sand, hop on a local bus out of the center to Mondello Beach, a stunning bay with shallow turquoise water sitting right under the massive cliffs of Monte Pellegrino.

4. Dubrovnik, Croatia – from £203pp

Dubrovnik is usually a victim of its own success – it can get packed and it can get incredibly expensive.

But if you catch the right flight windows, the value opens right up, giving you crystal-clear Adriatic water, historic city walls, and island-hopping boat trips all in one place.

I tracked down three nights at the Marnic Apartments flying from Manchester for just £203pp.

Because Dubrovnik has a massive airport and tons of flight capacity from the UK, flight prices drop through the floor if you avoid weekend departures.

And by using a city apartment base like this instead of an all-inclusive hotel block, you skip the resort premium but still get the exact same sea views as the luxury hotels down the road.

For the best swim in the city, walk just a few hundred meters past the eastern entrance of the Old Town to find Banje Beach, a pebble-and-sand spot that gives you a surreal view of the medieval city walls from the water.

3. Valletta, Malta – from £253pp

Malta feels like a cheat code for a summer break in 2026.

By the time late June rolls around, the limestone coast is properly baking and the coves and beaches around the capital are at their absolute best.

Valletta itself is brilliant because when you’ve had enough sun, you can wander straight into historic bars and massive waterfront restaurants.

I found three nights at the Excelsior Grand Hotel flying from Bournemouth for £253pp.

This is a proper, high-end property, so bagging a stay there alongside flights for under £300pp is unbelievable value.

Malta consistently delivers dramatically better hotel value than neighboring Italy, and because Valletta is compact, you don’t need to shell out on car rentals – the cheap local public transport will get you anywhere for pocket change.

While you’re there, take the quick ferry across the harbour to Sliema and head to Fond Ghadir to swim in the natural, rock-cut swimming pools right in the limestone coast.

2. Alicante, Spain – from £190pp

Alicante is often unfairly dismissed as just a gateway airport for the Costa Blanca, but the city itself is an absolute gem.

Playa del Postiguet is a massive beach that sits right on the edge of the city centre.

You can literally sunbathe all morning, shake the sand off your shoes, and step straight into a traditional tapas bar for lunch.

I found three nights at Alannia Costa Blanca flying from Bournemouth for just £190pp.

And booking Alicante completely eliminates the need for taxis, meaning your spend on transport drops to zero the second you check in.

While everyone stays on the main city beach, take the tram a few stops north to Playa de San Juan, a massive, five-kilometre stretch of wider, powdery sand that gives you plenty of space to hide away from the main city.

1. Valencia, Spain – from £165pp

Valencia might be the best-value city beach crossover in Europe right now.

It has a massive, wide sandy beach, an incredible Old Town, elite-level food, and prices that make Barcelona look like a total rip-off.

I clocked three nights at the Ilunion Valencia 4 flying from London Stansted for just £165pp. That is absurdly cheap, and you aren’t compromising on anything.

What makes Valencia a financial winner is the local economy – because it hasn’t been completely overrun by mass tourism like Madrid, a proper three-course Menú del Día (including wine) will still only set you back about €12 to €15 if you step into the local neighborhoods.

For the ultimate beach day, head down to Playa de la Malvarrosa and hit the best independent beach huts for a cheap drink on the sand. Bliss.

IF you haven’t booked yourself a summer holiday yet, or you’re desperate to upgrade your battered old suitcases…you’re in luck.

Top travel brands like Expedia, Eastpak, and On the Beach have launched massive summer sales – and we’ve rounded up the top deals.

These companies have slashed prices on everything from plane essentials to entire package holidays.

We’ve scoured their websites to find the biggest discounts so you don’t have to.

Here are the top online travel deals you can snap up right now.

Eastpak Luggage Summer Sale – up to 50% off

Need a big, durable suitcase with heaps of packing room inside? Eastpak if your best bet.

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Eastpak Luggage are running a summer sale where there’s up to 50% off on luggage, meaning you can make some huge savings on high-quality suitcases.

One of the biggest price drop items is the Travelpack backpack, where the price has been slashed in half from £95 to £47.50

If you’re looking for large luggage with plenty of room for your holidays, the TRANZVERZ L is currently 40% off – down from £185 to £111.

Another suitcase with big savings is the TRANVERZ M, a medium-sized suitcase on wheels which is down from its full price of £165 to £99 instead.

Expedia Big Summer Sale – up to 35% off

Expedia’s Big Summer Sale has lots of hotels and package holidays still available for the summer where you can bag some major savings.

There’s also deals on flights and car hire, so you can sort out everything you’ll need for your holiday in one place.

Included in the sale are last-minute beach holidays, such as three nights at the adults-only Hotel THB María Isabel in Majorca for £217pp (saving £98).

Plus this package holiday in Greece comes with an extra night for free, staying three nights at the Oktober Downtown Boutique Hotel in Rhodes for £310pp (saving £101).

Here’s a selection of some of the top deals we could find

Packing cubes – 38% off

If you haven’t started using packing cubes yet, now’s the time.

This eight piece set on Amazon is down 38% to £9.95, so you can grab yourself a full kit for under a tenner.

Rolling clothes into these cubes can save on luggage space, plus the kit comes with a dedicated toiletries bag and wet bag for swimwear – all are waterproof.

Not only can they save room in your suitcase, but they’ll save you time, too.

We all know that feeling of rummaging through a huge disorganised pile on the hotel room floor to find what you need.

Save yourself the hassle and keep things organised.

Amazon Travel Packing Cubes – £15.99 NOW £9.95

On the Beach holiday deals – £££ off + kids go free

On the Beach have a huge number of package holidays on sale, with destinations ranging from Spain and Greece to Florida.

These holidays include flights and accommodation, and are currently up to hundreds of pounds off full price.

Some of the best deals include a week-long stay in Albufeira for £250pp at the Muthu Balaia Sol hotel, which even has a kids stay free offer.

There’s also a week-long stay at the Villamarina Club hotel in Salou for £385pp, which also offers free kids’ places. This holiday is currently £107 off.

Other holiday deals in the sale include:

Browse their top deals page for more holiday deals.

Noise reduction earplugs – 80% off

If you’re tired of jamming cheap foam plugs into your ears – wondering if you’re doing actual damage to your ear canals – it’s time for an upgrade.

These Amazon earplugs are currently on sale for a massive 80% off, down from £49.99 to £9.99.

These soft and flexible earplugs are designed to mould perfectly into the ear – much comfier than the free pairs, which also don’t really block any noise.

In fact, these earplugs also provide 40% stronger sound isolation than regular foam alternatives, helping you enjoy the silence and sleep soundly.

Plus these plugs are specifically designed ‘to Block Snoring & Partner’s Noise,’ a saviour if you travel with a loud sleeper.

Amazon FIKSFA Ear Plugs – £49.99 NOW £9.99

Memory foam travel pillow – 20% off

Gone are the days of trying to get comfortable leaning against the plane window. Or worse, craning your head down onto your shoulder, leading to interrupted sleep and neck pain.

Travel pillows are a must for long haul flights – but not all of them are built the same.

This memory foam neck pillow from Amazon is ergonomically designed to cradle your neck perfectly.

Plus it even comes with ear plugs and an eye mask for optimum sleep, as well as a travel bag to keep it safe and clean.

It’s currently on sale, down 20% to £11.89. Skip the inflated airport prices and grab yourself a deal – and a better night’s sleep, too.

Amazon Cirorld Travel Pillow + ear plugs + eye mask – £14.99 NOW £11.89

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

OUR Spotlight On column takes an in-depth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as shining a light on some lesser-known spots.

This week we’re highlighting the best of the Sicilian coastal resort of Cefalu.

The Sun’s Head Of Travel, Lisa Minot said: “The seaside town of Cefalu is perfect for a weekend break.

“You can spend several happy hours wandering along the promenade by the wide, sandy beach and into the old town, passing the many shops and restaurants in the tiny alleyways.

“We couldn’t resist taking our obligatory Instagram shots at medieval sea gate Porta Pescara, before wandering past the quirky Lavatoio Medievale — an ancient wash house fed by a river that falls into the sea.

“The 12th-century cathedral with its soaring twin towers and elaborate Byzantine mosaics is well worth a visit, with a reviving drink in the square below it just as delightful.

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“The Porta Ossuna restaurant and pizzeria is perfect for a lunch on the seafront, we had a table right above the beach for us to enjoy the freshest of salads with burrata and prawns.”

MUST SEE/DO

While its broad, sandy beaches are an obvious draw, the winding cobbled streets of this medieval gem are a major part of its charm.

And all roads lead to the cathedral, the Duomo di Cefalu – a masterpiece of Arab-Norman architecture.

Don’t miss the 12th century Byzantine mosaics inside but for a real behind-the-scenes look, pre-book the Red Itinerary (£11.30) that includes the chance to climb the Norman towers for a fantastic view over the Piazza del Duomo.

Just off the Via Vittorio Emanuele is a quirky piece of history – a medieval laundry where local women washed clothes for centuries on stepped stones, fed by a natural spring.

HIDDEN GEM

The main beach can get crowded in summer but a little effort – and a 20minute walk east – and the Spiaggia di Kalura is a quieter pebble cove with crystal-clear water and dramatic rock formations, perfect for snorkelling.

For fabulous sunset views of Cefalu itself and its dramatic cliff-face backdrop head to the village of Sant’ Ambrogio which offers a snapshot of Sicilian village life without the crowds.

BEST VIEW

It takes a little effort and is best completed early in the day or later in the afternoon in the summer.

But it’s so worth the climb to the top of La Rocca – a huge limestone cliff that looms 268 metres over the town.

It’s a 45minute hike to the top where you’ll find the Temple of Diana, a megalithic structure from the 9th century BC as well as the ruins of a Norman castle.

It also offers fabulous views over the city and the sparkling Mediterranean beyond.

RATED RESTAURANT

It’s hard to get a bad meal in Cefalu with hundreds to choose from in the winding alleys.

On the seafront, the Porta Ossuna restaurant serves up pizzas, pasta and delicious salads with a terrace directly on the beach.

Also ideal for dining by the sea, Lo Scoglio Ubriaco is perched over the sea and is a must for seafood pastas.

And for stand-out pasta dishes, try Pasta e Pasti, legendary for its handmade offerings – go for the Pasta alla Norma or anything made with local pistachios.

BEST BAR

For sunset sips, head to the Jureka Wine Bar on Via Giudecca. There’s a wide choice of tipples with cocktails starting from £9.50.

And for fabulous views over La Rocca and the whole the town, head to the rooftop bar Dokeio at the Hotel La Giara with its multiple roof terraces and late night music.

For day drinking by the Med waves, head to the Bordomari Sea Lounge Bar with great views and cocktails from £9.

HOTEL PICK

Beach babes will love the 4* Astro Suite Hotel, right on Cefalu’s sands and with panoramic sea views.

It’s just a short walk from the historic centre and features an elevated terrace with pool and loungers as well as rooms with balconies, sea views and kitchenettes.

Six nights’ B&B is from £934 including flights from Stansted. See tui.co.uk.

OUR Spotlight ON column takes an in-depth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as shining a light on some lesser-known spots.

This week we’re focusing on Folkestone, the newly-revived Kentish coastal town.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who lives there, has shared some of her best kept secrets.

She said: “Being just 52 minutes from London, Folkestone is one of the easiest beach towns to get to by train in the country.

“It hopes to reopen the funicular again this summer after years, and you can find live music most weekends at the harbour too.

“My favourite spot? Gaia Studios for a huge cocktail list (and they’re branching out into brunch too).”

Read more on seaside towns

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MUST SEE / DO

Who says art only belongs in a gallery? The UK’s largest outdoor art trail winds through Folkestone and is completely free.

There are contributions from 46 artists including Antony Gormley, Tracey Emin and Yoko Ono. See if you can spot the Banksy too!

HIDDEN GEM

A picturesque zig zag path from the clifftops leads down to the Lower Leas Coastal Park.

The linear coastal gardens feel tucked away under the cliffs and are well-maintained with impressive planting and a prime spot right alongside the beach.

If that wasn’t enough there’s also the South East’s largest free adventure playground which is being rebuilt and will open in the summer.

BEST VIEW

There’s nothing like enjoying the view of the sea, particularly at the end of the Harbour Arm sipping a glass of something bubbly at the Lighthouse Champagne bar.

Pick up a bite to eat from the many food stalls and restaurants on the arm or indulge in some independent shopping.

The Harbour Arm also boasts the UK’s largest beach spa so the best view might just be from the sauna, hot tub or a cold plunge barrel!

RATED RESTAURANT

The award-winning Rocksalt, a two-rosette restaurant overlooking the harbour, is where you will find the best seafood in town.

Make sure to try the seared Folkestone scallops, alongside a chunky piece of fresh bread made by Docker brewery just down the road.

A short drive away in Saltwood the only two star Michelin restaurant in the whole of Kent.

Hide & Fox serves modern British cuisine in an intimate and relaxed environment.

BEST BAR

The Radnor Arms came fifth in the Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain.

It’s a cosy, renovated Victorian pub in the Bouverie district  serving a locally-sourced menu with roasts, brunches and  themed evenings including flatbreads, Asian night and steak night.

Prohibition-inspired speakeasy The Potting Shed only opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Obtain the password to slip into the backroom and be rewarded with a carefully crafted cocktail menu inspired by the underground culture of the speakeasy bars of the 1920s.

HOTEL PICK

Voco The Clifton is a traditional Victorian hotel with rooms decorated by local artists and views of the Channel, as well as Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill. 

Rooms from  £100 per night.

Or try the Burlington Best Western, a Victorian 4* hotel overlooking the famous Leas Promenade and the English Channel. 

Rooms from £75 per room per night.

FANCY a UK staycation with the family this summer holidays?

We’ve found UK family holiday deals for July and August that won’t break the bank – and will be sure to keep the kids (and grown-ups) smiling.

With schools across the country breaking up as early as July 17, the countdown to summer is officially on – just make sure to check the term time dates for your area.

You can book a family summer holiday at big-name parks from Haven and Parkdean Resorts from as little as £16.19pp per night.

Here’s our pick of affordable family getaways in the UK you can take during the school summer holidays.

Sunnydale Holiday Park, Saltfleet, Lincolnshire

This beachfront holiday park has charming coastal villages and a seal sanctuary on your doorstep – and you can stay for around £16pp a night.

Read more on holiday parks

ALE BE THERE

Haven to open new Wetherspoon pubs across ‘majority’ of its 39 holiday parks

HAPPY HOLS

Haven holiday parks with beaches, waterparks and Wetherspoons from £12.25pn

This gem of a park in Saltfleet, Lincolnshire, is an ideal choice if you want a peaceful park with direct access to the beach – without the crowds and noisiness of larger resorts.

Despite being a smaller park, it still has plenty to see and do such as a heated indoor pool, an on-site fishing lake, an outdoor adventure playground and evening entertainment shows.

Take a trip to nearby Mablethorpe (15 minutes’ drive) to visit adorable seals at the Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre.

Here you can also meet rescued reptiles, birds, meerkats and even monkeys. Entry costs £15 for adults and £11 for children.

Plus you can chill out on the sands of Mablethorpe Beach, or take a ride on the Mablethorpe Sand Train for £2.

Parkdean Resorts offer a four night stay at Sunnydale Holiday Park from July 20 for £259 total, which works out to £16.19pp per night.

The deal is for a stay in a Bronze caravan, where double-glazed caravans come with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom and everything you’d need in a budget-friendly base – plus there’s dog-friendly options, too.

Book a 4 night stay at Sunnydale Holiday Park for a family of 4 in July for £259

Haven Littlesea Holiday Park, Weymouth, Dorset

This AA 5 Gold Star-rated holiday park in Weymouth gives you direct access to the vast Jurassic Coast, with famous spots like Chesil Beach on your doorstep.

The holiday park itself is a large seafront site packed with activities for all ages.

There’s a large outdoor pool to cool off from the summer heat, plus a heated indoor option for any rainy days.

Younger kids can hop in a mini 4×4 for an off-road adventure, bounce around on the bungee trampolines or play with slime and make crafts during the Creative Sessions.

Older kids and thrill-seekers of the family can take on the outdoor climbing wall, the NERF gun training camp or scramble their way through the inflatable arena.

We found a Haven Hideaway deal for four guests to stay three nights in a Saver Caravan from July 17 for £259 total, or £21.60pp per night.

Book a 3 night stay at Littlesea Holiday Park for a family of 4 in July for £259

Withernsea Sands Holiday Park, Yorkshire

This holiday park in Humberside was awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award last summer, and it’s surprisingly affordable even though it’s one of the most highly-rated parks.

Reviewers have praised its ‘extremely good’ evening entertainment, kind staff and cleanliness of the site and caravans.

There’s also a heated indoor pool, a kids club, sports courts and mini golf – plus a bar, restaurant and Costa Coffee when you need to fuel up on food and drink.

As for evening entertainment, families can meet the Starland Krazy Krew of animal characters, as well as play bingo and watch performances from live singers.

Not only does the site give you direct access to a Blue Flag beach, but it also makes for a great base to explore nearby coastal towns of Hornsea and Bridlington.

We found a deal for a three night stay in a Bronze Caravan from July 17 for £257 total, or £21.50pp per night.

Book a 3 night stay at Withernsea Sands Holiday Park for a family of 4 in July for £257

Orchards Holiday Village, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

It’d be hard to get bored at this action-packed park in Clacton-on-Sea, with a busy activity schedule and Clacton Pavilion on your doorstep.

This expansive park offers unique activities like mini segways for kids, Footgolf and, this summer, a Football Fun Factory where aspiring footballers can put their skills to the test.

There’s plenty more for families to dive into like the FunWorks amusement arcade, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and a nine-hole golf course.

Plus for something more relaxing you can take in the scenic surroundings by hiring a bike or spending an afternoon set up by the fishing lake.

For food and drink, pick from familiar favourites like Burger King and Papa Johns, or settle down for pub favourites in the Mash and Barrel.

Here you’re only 17 minutes’ drive from Clacton Pavilion Fun Park, where there’s over 20 rides along the seafront, adventure golf and live entertainment shows. An unlimited rides wristband costs £12.99.

We found a Haven Hideaway deal for a three night stay in a Bronze Caravan for four people from 31 July for £295 total, or £24.58pp per night.

Book a 3 night stay at Orchards Holiday Village for a family of 4 in late July for £295

Combe Haven, Sussex

This holiday park in St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex is a lively resort with lots of high-energy activities.

This park is perfect for kids who like to make a splash, with an outdoor pool, lazy river, and a giant Space Bowl flume.

There’s lots of sports on offer, too, such as archery coaching, football and Batfast (a sport like Squash with an interactive screen).

For a bite to eat, grab a meal from Cook’s Fish and Chips and sit on the seafront, and relax with a drink at The Saxon Bar and enjoy the sea views.

Here you’re also around 15 minutes’ drive from historic Hastings, where you can visit Hastings Castle or go undertake the Smuggler’s Adventure in the town’s caves and tunnels.

Haven are offering a three night stay from July 17 in a Saver Caravan for four people for £275 total, or £22.92pp per night.

Book a 3 night stay at Combe Haven for a family of 4 in July for £275

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

AS a travel expert at one of the UK’s biggest travel companies, I spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at holiday prices.

Not because I have a weird fetish for spreadsheets (trust me, I don’t), because if you dig deep enough into the data, you can spot exactly when everyone is about to pile into a destination. And, more importantly, where the cheap holidays are hiding before the rest of Britain catches on.

For summer 2026, a few spots keep flashing up on my radar for one massive reason: they’re offering proper, old-school all-inclusive value.

Some are old favourites, others are probably completely off your map.

But they’re all delivering serious bang for your buck right now.

Here are the seven at the top of my list.

Cabo Blanco, Majorca, Spain

Majorca isn’t exactly a secret, but Cabo Blanco is about as close as you’ll get to an undiscovered value goldmine.

While the masses fight for sunbeds in the bigger resorts, this quieter stretch of coast serves up rugged cliffs, proper crystal-clear water, and the kind of sea views that justify doing absolutely nothing from your balcony for a week straight.

You get all the perks of Majorca in the short flight and guaranteed sun, but skip the eye-watering price tag of the flashier spots.

I found a five-night all-inclusive stay at Sun Club El Dorado for £325pp in August.

It’s perched right on the edge of the coast, has more pools than you’ll know what to do with, and is basically built for elite-level lounging.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech probably isn’t the first place you think of when someone says “all-inclusive,” which is exactly why it’s a brilliant shout: it breaks the monotony of the standard fly-and-flop.

You can be haggling in a centuries-old souk in the afternoon, and back at the resort by dark, nursing a drink by the pool with the Atlas Mountains in the background. It beats swapping one European beach for another.

Case in point: a five-night all-inclusive stint at Marrakech Ryads Parc & Spa is coming in at £373pp this summer.

It’s one of my top picks because it nails the balance – you can dive headfirst into the chaos of the city by day, then retreat to a massive, quiet resort to completely switch off.

Sidari, Corfu, Greece

Corfu has quietly morphed into one of the best-value Greek islands, and Sidari is where the real bargains are hiding.

It’s a bit of an all-rounder – it handles families, couples, and groups without feeling like a chaotic free-for-all.

Plus, you’ve got the Canal d’Amour right there to give it a bit of natural character.

Looking at the peak summer hols, I found a deal for a five-night all-inclusive stay at Panorama Sidari Village from £398pp this August.

The selling point here is definitely the location: it’s perched on a hillside overlooking the coast, so you get the top-tier views without being stranded miles away from the resort centre.

Gumusluk, Bodrum, Turkey

Turkey’s reputation for budget-friendly all-inclusives is well established, but for me, Gumusluk is still criminally underrated.

Unlike the mega-resorts down the road, this place has a proper slow pace.

The waterfront is lined with seafood restaurants, the sunsets are top-tier, and the vibe here is completely relaxed.

I found five nights all-inclusive at Golden Age Crystal Bodrum for £395pp right in the school holidays.

The hotel is a cracking little base because it puts you near the side of Bodrum most tourists miss – laid-back beach clubs and evening strolls – without forcing you to pay the premium rates of the flashier hotels nearby.

Mahdia, Tunisia

If you want the absolute maximum amount of sunshine per pound spent, Tunisia should always be on your radar.

Mahdia is easily one of the country’s best-kept secrets, pairing massive white beaches with a calm, old fishing port vibe. It feels authentic, rather than a purpose-built tourist bubble.

I did some digging and found five nights all-inclusive at the Nour Palace Resort for £388pp this August.

It sits right on the sand and boasts one of the biggest pool setups on this entire list. If you just want to park yourself by the water and forget reality, this is the one.

Agadir, Morocco

Agadir has been quietly banking reliable, budget sun holidays for years.

The weather is a safe bet, the beach goes on forever, and the whole place is set up to make your life easy.

It’s one of those rare spots where you can do absolutely nothing for a week and actually feel like you’ve escaped.

The price on this one is borderline ridiculous too: a five-night all-inclusive stay at El Pueblo Tamlelt for £228pp.

It’s exactly what a budget all-inclusive should be – huge pools, loads going on, and a price tag that makes you double-check you didn’t accidentally miss a zero off the end.

Ovacik, Turkey

If you want the full package – beaches, nightlife, mountain backdrops, and change left over from a grand – Ovacik is tough to beat.

It sits just above the famous Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, giving you easy access to Turkey’s best coastline while being a cheap taxi ride away from the bars in Hisaronu.

Because it’s up in the hills, it stays a touch cooler and greener than the coastal strip, which is a massive win in August.

I spotted a five-night stay at Sunshine Holiday Resort Hotel from £388pp this August.

It perfectly highlights why this area works so well for families: you get a waterpark, proper mountain views, and more than enough entertainment to keep kids quiet without ever needing to leave the complex. Job done.

TICK off a plethora of UNESCO stunners, feast on incredible street food and slurp the best coffee – all on this unforgettable tour, says writer Donna Smiley.

Hopping on to the back of the scooter, I slip my arms around the driver’s waist as we weave through the narrow streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter – a dizzying rush of colour, noise and scent.

I’ve only just arrived in Vietnam’s chaotic capital, so a Grab taxi, £1.40 for 40 minutes, turns out to be a great way to loop this kilometre-square maze of 36 streets and get my bearings.

Every corner is packed with vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and steaming bowls of pho, to clothes, silver and stacks of cooking utensils.

The air is thick with the scent of broth and grilled pork drifting out from hidden alleys.

Down each passageway lies another surprise — an ancient temple, a bustling market, a tiny coffee house or a tucked-away shop.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Initially, crossing the road feels like a death-defying act as hundreds of scooters stream past without stopping.

But soon enough, I’ve stopped flinching and I’m ready to begin my G Adventures X National Geographic 13-day tour, which will whisk me from the country’s north to its south.

First off, my nine fellow explorers and I delve into Vietnam’s past at Hoa Lo Prison – known to American prisoners of war as the Hanoi Hilton – a place that’s as fascinating as it is harrowing (Hoalo.vn).

Later, we visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, one of the nation’s most influential political figures, and learn more about his life at the Presidential Palace, a grand French-colonial building.

That afternoon, it’s time to leave city life behind for Mai Châu, a valley just over two hours’ coach drive away, and one that is framed by verdant hills and dotted with traditional houses raised on stilts belonging to the White Thai ethnic communities.

Our home for the next couple of nights is the lush, peaceful Mai Châu Hideaway Lake Resort (Maichauhideaway.com).

On one guided walk, we spot workers planting rice seedlings, water buffaloes grazing lazily, and children playing along the paths. It’s nothing short of idyllic.

It may be another long bus ride to get to UNESCO site Ha Long Bay – four hours to be precise – but an overnight cruise here on a traditional wooden junk boat is simply unmissable.

We stare in awe at the hundreds of towering limestone karsts, their rainforest-topped peaks rising dramatically from the emerald water, before bedding down in a cosy cabin.

The next morning, we take a small boat to explore Sung Sot Cave – it’s the bay’s largest, best-known cavern with vast, illuminated chambers, which we explore by foot.

We then set sail again to Thien Cung Cave, famous for its intricate, mythical-looking rock formations.

Once back in Hanoi, we fly to Vietnam’s former imperial capital, Hue, just over an hour away.

This UNESCO-listed city is where one of the Vietnam War’s most dramatic battles took place.

We tour Hue’s walled citadel, exploring its lavish palaces, serene gardens and courtyards, its shrines and colourful gates – some scarred by bullet holes from the fierce fighting – before entering the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for the imperial family.

Later, we stroll along the Perfume River to the magnificent tombs of Vietnam’s emperors close to the water.

That evening, craving one of the country’s most iconic street foods, bánh mì – a light, crispy baguette stuffed with meat, pickled veg, herbs and creamy spreads – I head to local favourite Bánh Mì Truong Tien O Tho on Tran Cao Vân for a pork roll. It’s utterly mouth-watering and costs just 25p!

Vietnam also has the best (and cheapest) coffee I’ve ever tasted.

As salt coffee is a Hue specialty, I seek out Cà Phê Muoi on Dang Thái Thân Street, to give the robust Vietnamese coffee made with condensed milk, £1, a try, and the lightly salted whipped cream delivers a delicious sweet-and-salty hit. I’m instantly addicted.

After an early-morning, four-hour drive, we arrive in Hoi An, another UNESCO spot.

The Old Town’s narrow streets decked in colourful silk lanterns that sway gently above the crowds are instantly enchanting, but as night falls, its riverfront is truly magical.

Bridges glow in vivid colours and hundreds of candle-lit lanterns drift along the Hoai River.

We hop on a boat to release a paper lotus lantern, a tradition symbolising peace and good fortune – as I light my lantern, I think of a loved one and watch the tiny flame float away.

Even surrounded by so many tourists doing the same, it is incredibly moving.

Our last stop is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon and home to 14 million people.

Alongside iconic sites, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon and the ornate Central Post Office sit communist-era landmarks and futuristic skyscrapers, which light up at night and dominate District 1’s skyline.

The War Remnants Museum serves as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War (Baotangchungtichchientranh.vn), as does Independence Palace – the site marking the end of the war (Dinhdoclap.gov.vn).

Come dusk, rooftop bars glow and I find myself back on a scooter for the Ho Chi Minh: Food Tasting & Sightseeing Tour, from £24 for four hours.

Zipping through the city, we venture into neighbourhoods I’d have struggled to find alone – stopping first for the delicate beef stew at Quán An Cô Liêng on Võ Van Tan Street, a humble spot in the Michelin Guide that’s packed with locals (Getyourguide.com).

From here, we cruise through the vibrant Ho Thi Ky flower market, filled with the scent of jasmine and marigolds, before stopping at a nearby food market to sample an array of delights, including Vietnamese pizza and chè chuoi – a warm, creamy dessert with bananas and rich coconut cream.

It’s safe to say this whole trip has certainly been one incredible ride.

FROM seeing Shakira perform in Rio to a drinking cocktails in the world’s tallest cocktail bar – it’s fair to say I’ve been to a lot of countries in my career as a travel writer.

Since my first trip abroad 30 years ago, I’ve wracked up 60 countries… and counting.

Yet while I love a far-flung trip, some of my favourite cities are a bit closer to home, and MUCH cheaper to fly to.

So here are my 10 favourites which you can get to in just a few hours, and none of the flights there are more than £20.

Agadir

The Moroccan city is perfect for some cheap, quick, winter sun.

Agadir is ideal for those wanting relaxation and was even named the most affordable summer holiday destination earlier this year.

A highlight is Souk el Had, one of the largest markets in Morocco, and I recommend the White Beach Resort Taghazout just outside of the city for a relaxing stay, right on the beach.

Flights can be found with Ryanair for £14.99 from London Stansted or £17.99 from Edinburgh.

Seville

As one of Spain‘s most southern cities, you can expect some scorchingly good weather (just avoid the summers where it hits 40C).

Watch some flamenco, buy some famous Seville orange perfume or explore the Moorish Royal Alcazar Palace.

Make sure to stay at Only U – stays are around £100pp per night and it felt more exclusive members club than hotel thanks to the rooftop pool, onsite florist and bakery and VERY trendy rooms.

Flights can be found with Ryanair for £14.99 from London Stansted or £17.99 from Edinburgh.

Brussels

It was during a Christmas trip to Brussels that I realised it would actually make the perfect girly trip in summer.

I explored the Rue de Flandre neighbourhood – once named one of the world’s coolest – for noodle bars, pizzarias and cosy drinking spots.

I stayed at the Hilton Brussels Grand Palace hotel, with the fancy breakfast room being a highlight. Prices start at £185 for a double room.

Flights from Newcastle start from £14.99 with Ryanair.

Faro

Faro gets overlooked for just being the gateway to the Algarve, but it’s criminal to skip this stunning Portuguese city.

It has beautiful Caribbean-like islands just off the coast which are ideal day trips, costing just a few euros.

It is also home to 3HB the city’s only five star hotel complete with high spec rooms and rooftop bars with firepits perfect for Love Island style chats. Rooms start at £76 pp per night.

Flights start from £13 with Wizz Air from London Gatwick.

Madrid

The Spanish capital has quickly become my favourite place in the country for so many reasons.

There are fun neighbourhoods such as Malasana with bars and shops (try the fantastically decedant bakes in Santo) or visit on weekends to El Rastro, one of Europe‘s biggest flea markets.

If you’re on a budget you can’t go wrong with the recently opened easyHotel too, with rooms starting at £59 per night. It is an easy few metro stops from the city centre – also easy to use even if not used to underground networks.

Flights can be found with Ryanair from £14.99 from Bristol and London Stansted.

Milan

While Milan can be slated as one of the less-loved Italian cities, it is worth a weekend trip – IF you know where to go.

The street-art lined Navigli is popular with locals for its vibey restaurants lining the canal (go just off the main road to Iter for amazing wine and fun interiors).

Try NYX hotel, with double rooms from £156 per night. It is right beside the train station and has a rooftop terrace.

Flights start £14 with Wizz Air from London Luton or from £14.99 with Ryanair from Manchester and London Stansted.

Marbella

Marbella may be a beach club capital but in my opinion, off season is the best time to visit – as I found when I planned a trip in April.

This meant quiet dinners in the local-populated Taberna la Nina Del Pisto, or bar hopping from La Tienda to Vinalium Castillejos for cheap wine.

The Hard Rock Hotel is a hilarious place to stay – make sure to get the music-themed massage where music is played from speakers to the vibrations of the bed. Prices start at £120 per night for a double room.

Flights start from £14 with Wizz Air from London Gatwick, or with Ryanair from £14.99 when flying from Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, London Luton or Bournemouth.

Copenhagen

One of my favourite trips was when I was between jobs, and decided to spend a chic weekend in Copenhagen.

I brunched at Atelier September, explored the Fashion Museum and popped into Tivoli for a step back in time, as well as popped to see the famous Little Mermaid statue and Hans Christian Anderson grave.

Hotel SP34 – from £80 pp per night – is a must, if not just for the free wine and cheese hour ever evening…

Flights from Edinburgh and London Stansted from £14.99 with Ryanair or £16.99 from Bristol and Manchester.

Amsterdam

You might have already visited Amsterdam, but let me sell you on Amsterdam Noord.

Get the free ferry over from the main train station along with all the other cycling locals and before dinner and drinks at Next. Don’t forget some of the amazing art galleries and museums – STRAAT and NXT are worth a visit.

Stay at Bunk for a unique stay, built into a church with some VERY interesting artwork and a vibey bar. If you are on a tight budget a pod for one starts at £25.

Flights from London Southend from £14.99 with easyJet.

Palermo

You can’t visit Palermo without getting a famous Negroni and Bar Timi claim to have the best in the city (best chased by some fresh arancini at the food markets.

There are loads of flea markets and antique markets to explore, although you could also leave the city to find a beach club for the afternoon as well.

When it comes to hotels, there is the new NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano which feels quintessentially Sicilian but is also in a great location. Prices start at around £95pp per night.

Flights from London Stansted start from £16.99 with Ryanair.

FAMILIES have just six weeks until the school summer holidays begin – and it’s not too late to book a bargain all-inclusive family holiday.

While the summer holidays usually signal a massive jump in holiday prices, we’ve found all inclusive holiday deals that will actually SAVE you money.

Plus, by packing flights, hotel, meals, drinks and snacks into a single all-inclusive deal, you won’t need to worry about extra costs once you’re abroad.

To make holiday budgets stretch even further, brands like Loveholidays and On the Beach are offering free child places across a range of hotels.

We’ve rounded up a selection of week-long, all inclusive holidays in July and August with FREE child places.

This means you can secure a week in the sunshine with unlimited ice lollies, drinks, kids’ clubs, and pool access while one of the little ones travels for nothing.

Read more on all inclusives

FLY IN

One of the cheapest family holiday spots has 89p beers & £279 all inclusive hols

ALL IN

Holiday spot slashes prices to entice Brits – from 7 nights all inclusive for £289pp

Here’s our pick of bargain all-inclusive family holidays from £368pp.

Costa Brava, Spain

With an on-site disco bar, kids splash pool and a free shuttle to the nearest sandy beach, you can’t really go wrong with a break at this Costa Brava resort.

The Santa Susanna Resort Affiliated by Fergus has plenty of activities for kids to burn off their energy – plus relaxing spots for parents to unwind, too.

There’s a pool with a splash zone and water features, an action-packed kids club and evening discos that children will love – plus unlimited ice lollies.

And for the grown-ups, there’s two bars where you can grab an ice-cold beer or cocktail – one of which is by the pool.

Loveholidays offer a 7 night stay from August 18 including flights for £368pp with one child staying for free – and is currently £198 off.

Book a 7 night all inclusive stay at Santa Susanna Resort Affiliated by Fergus for £368pp.

Antalya, Turkey

The all inclusive Sun Star Beach has a massive outdoor pool with a waterslide, four lively bars, and its very own private beach.

When parents need a breather from baking in the Mediterranean sun, you can slip away to the on-site spa.

Here you’ll find a sauna, a traditional Turkish bath and soothing massage treatments – plus a gym if you want to squeeze in a workout.

There’s also a kids club and activities program, as well as sports on the beach like beach volleyball. water skiing and jet skiing.

Out and about, the vibrant bars, restaurants, and shops of Mahmutlar are right on your doorstep.

Loveholidays offer a 7 night stay from August 31 including flights for £469pp with one child staying for free. This break is currently £40 off, too.

Book a 7 night all inclusive stay at Sun Star Beach for £469pp

Agadir, Morocco

El Pueblo Tamlelt is a tropical-feel Moroccan resort with 11 acres of lush gardens, just steps away from the beach.

Plus it’s only 15 minutes from the airport, so you’ll be landed and on a lounger in no time.

Every modern room comes with a private balcony or terrace, and the all-inclusive deal keeps kids happy with an all-you-can-eat buffet and poolside snacks like pizza and burgers.

When you’re ready to explore, Agadir’s bustling centre is just a 10-minute taxi or bus ride away.

Wander the palm-lined promenade or head to the Agadir Oufella Ruins for spectacular mountaintop views over the city.

On the Beach offer a 7 night stay from August 19 including flights for £433pp with children 2 and under staying for free. This holiday is currently £166 off full price.

Book a 7 night all inclusive stay at El Pueblo Tamelt for £433pp

Crete, Greece

The Club Lyda Hotel in Gouves is a great value option for families looking for an affordable Greek island holiday.

This large, village-style resort sits within walking distance of local soft sand beaches and offers a budget-friendly all-inclusive package.

The hotel has a large outdoor swimming pool plus a kids pool, as well as plenty of loungers out on the terrace for sunbathing.

This resort caters to families with little ones, with a kids club, children’s swimming pool and activity program that runs all day long.

Meals are served buffet-style in the main restaurant, which cooks up a rotating mix of traditional Greek dishes and familiar favourites.

If you want to explore beyond the resort, The Dinosauria Park is just a 10-minutes away by car or taxi, plus there are three waterpark options within 20 minutes’ drive.

Loveholidays offer a 7 night stay from August 18 including flights for £489pp with one child staying free. This deal saves £97 off full-price, too.

Book a 7 night all inclusive stay at Club Lyda Hotel for £489pp

Bodrum, Turkey

The Tiana Beach Resort is a budget-friendly base in the glamorous resort of Bodrum, offering a luxurious-feeling family holiday for less.

Here there’s pretty garden paths that will lead you straight down to the sea, with a stretch of private beach with a range of water sports.

Back at the hotel, there’s a pool surrounded by plenty of sun loungers and parasols, plus sports like tennis and volleyball.

Plus the spa and sauna with treatments like massages is the cherry on top.

It’s about half an hour’s drive to the centre of Bodrum, where you can visit its massive castle or stroll along the glitzy marina and dip into bars and seafood restaurants.

On the Beach offer a 7 night stay from August 17 including flights for £518pp. This saves you £172 off full-price.

Book a 7 night all inclusive stay at Tiana Beach Resort for £518pp

*Prices correct at the time of publication.

IF you’re looking to travel on the cheap this summer, we’ve got some of the best lesser-known destinations that offer the same (or better) holidays, with fewer crowds and much less money.

I’m a travel expert, mum of two and influencer with 335,000 followers on Instagram, where I share tips on my page @thetravelmum on how to travel the world without spending a fortune.

It’s totally possible to discover a more authentic experience, friendlier prices, and a slower pace that actually suits families far better in destination dupes.

And you don’t have to forgo the convenience and reassurance of things like budget-friendly flights, easy airport transfers, family-friendly dining options, and good quality healthcare. 

I am on a mission to help families travel more and not spend too much doing it.

So I’ve rounded up some great options from across Europe, some of which are not many miles away from the very well-known resorts…

Instead of Santorini… try Naxos

Santorini is known for its picture postcard views, but it comes with high prices and crowds.

Hop on one of the regular ferries from Santorini (one hour 15 minutes) or Mykonos (35 minutes), and find yourself in Naxos.

Naxos still has all the charm and style of the better-known Cycladic islands – think white-washed hilltop villages, clear blue waters and traditional tavernas, but with lower cost accommodation, food and activities.

The other huge plus for families is that Naxos has stretches of sandy beaches gently sloping into the sea, which you won’t find in Santorini. 

Staying here, I’d recommend checking into the Golden Sun Hotel.

I’ve stayed at this hotel myself, and it’s in a great setting right on the beach.

The rooms have large balconies, which are perfect for sitting out in the evening once the kids are in bed.

Instead of the Algarve…try the Silver Coast

The Algarve region in Southern Portugal, with its popular resorts such as Albufeira and Vilamoura, attracts 5 million tourists annually.

Of course, most of which is concentrated in the peak summer months – sending prices skyrocketing during school holidays.

Instead, take a flight into the capital city of Lisbon or Porto, and within as little as an hour’s drive, base yourself on the Silver Coast – or Costa de Prata in Portuguese.

The region stretches along the country’s Western coastline, offering a varied mix of beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, picturesque fishing villages and medieval towns.

Places like Nazare, Obidos and Peniche offer a more local feel than some of the Algarve’s heavily developed resort areas, and it is a great choice for families wanting a more traditional Portuguese experience, without giving up beach days or reliable sunshine. 

Perhaps check into the Ohai Nazare Outdoor Resort, which has a free waterpark and activities like basketball and volleyball for the kids.

There’s even a food shop service, as well as an on-site supermarket for essentials.

Instead of Split… try Trogir

Croatia has firmly cemented itself as a great destination for families – it’s one of our favourite European countries to visit.

With its rise in popularity, flights are now widely available from many UK airports, but the downside is that tourist hotspots quickly become crowded.

Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, draws crowds wanting to experience its mix of beautiful beaches, historic streets and easy connections to other parts of the country.

But, just a 30-minute drive from Split, you can find Trogir – a UNESCO World Heritage town.

Trogir offers many of the same benefits as Split – beautiful Adriatic scenery, historic streets, waterfront restaurants and easy access to island boat trips, but in a much more manageable setting for families.

While Split can feel crowded, busy and expensive during the summer months, Trogir has a calmer atmosphere that makes travelling with children far less stressful.

Its compact old town is easy to explore on foot, the promenade feels more relaxed, and there’s less traffic and noise.

I’d recommend a stay at Amadria Park Camping Trogir, which has sea views, a huge swimming pool and three on-site restaurants.

This is another one I’ve stayed in, and I’d say don’t discount a lodge holiday, this site has fab facilities and is in a really pretty setting.

It has great transport links too.

Instead of Tenerife… try La Palma

The Canary Islands are a family go-to for year-round sun without the long-haul flight. When other European options can’t guarantee the weather, the Canaries are usually a safe bet.

This means there isn’t really a low season, and while demand is high, so are the prices.

So, admittedly, this one might take a little more effort to get to, but we think it could be worth it.

La Palma – nicknamed ‘La Isla Bonita’, is reachable directly from a few UK airports, and actually, as of 2026, you can now book a package holiday there through Jet2Holidays, or the alternative is a short 30-minute flight or a 2-and-a-half-hour ferry from Tenerife.

While Tenerife has huge resorts known for lively nightlife and giant waterparks, La Palma is quieter, greener and better suited to families looking for a more peaceful escape.

Check into La Palma Princess, which has all-inclusive packages with TUI.

The hotel itself has spacious rooms as well as six swimming pools for kids to splash about in, and there’s a kids’ club for little ones too.

Instead of the Amalfi Coast… try Puglia 

The Amalfi Coast is a bucket list destination for many, synonymous with luxury and romance, not necessarily things that go hand in hand with family travel.

That said, there are plenty of places along the Amalfi Coast that are great for families – but they’ll come at a premium price.

If you’re dreaming of la dolce vita but have children in tow and a more conservative budget, take a look at Puglia – along the southeastern coast. Puglia tends to be better value across the board, from accommodation to restaurants.

The region is easy to reach too, with flights from the UK into Bari or Brindisi, both offering straightforward transfers to coastal towns such as Otranto, Vieste, and Monopoli.

Instead of tight cliffside roads, families get open countryside, historic sites, and some of Italy’s best sandy beaches.

It’s not the same as the Amalfi Coast, but it still delivers on Italian beauty and culture, and you’ll have more space to enjoy it. 

If you’re looking at where to stay, can you really go wrong with Eurocamp?

Centro Turistico San Nicola Eurocamp sits right on the seafront and even has a private beach for guests.

Steps away from the sand is a restaurant, bar and pizzeria – there’s also lots of activities, a big kids’ playground too and evening entertainment.

Instead of the Swiss Alps… try the Julian Alps

For families looking for an Alpine experience – be it for winter sports or an alternative summer break, instead of the high-cost, premier resorts across the Swiss Alps, we’d recommend considering Slovenia’s answer – the Julian Alps.

Still delivering on dramatic mountain scenery, crystal clear lakes and fresh Alpine air, you can take your pick of adventures – hikes, cycle trails, watersports and snow sports – depending on when you visit.

Take a flight from the UK to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital; from there, the towns of Bohinj or Bled both make great bases to explore.

Bled is known for Lake Bled, with its striking church and castle sitting on a tiny island. It’s also doable on public transport if you don’t fancy hiring a car. 

Along with mountain views, Apartments Vitranc has family rooms with a separate sleeping and dining area as well as a kitchenette.

One major plus here is that children stay free – and don’t forget to check out the hotel pool.

We’ve got a Slovenia trip on our agenda for this year, and this place looks like it’s well placed to be a great base to explore this beautiful area, and it has a pool for the kids to enjoy too.

Instead of Rome… try Verona

Italy’s capital, Rome, home to some of the world’s most famous sites and ancient ruins, is a tourist hotspot all year round.

The crowded attractions, their sprawling size and long queues, can make it tricky to navigate with younger travellers in tow.

Whereas in Verona you can still experience Roman history, meander across beautiful piazzas, take in the riverside views and enjoy the incredible Italian cuisine, without the intensity of the capital city. 

Another great selling point of Verona is its accessibility, served by its own airport, or easily reachable from Milan or Venice, it opens up more options to snap up cheap flights, and even incorporate a couple of cities into one trip.

If staying in Verona, check Dimora Giardino di Giulietta, a family-run hotel with a pretty patio area and spacious family rooms.

Instead of Paris … try Lille

Fancy some French city culture without the crowds of Paris – then why not give Lille a go?

Not only is it reachable in just one hour and 20 minutes on the Eurostar from London, but its compact layout and fab public transport system make navigating, especially with a pushchair, much more manageable.

Known for its art and food scenes, there are plenty of fun, family-friendly attractions to fill a few days of slower-paced exploring, too.

Such as Cita-Parc, an amusement park with rides, or Lille Zoo, within walking distance from the city centre, which is home to over 400 animals, and entry is a very budget-friendly €6 (£5.19) for adults, €3 (£2.60) for children aged 5-17.

Wear kids out running around the huge Grand-Place square, before enjoying a stroll through the Vieux-Lille (old town) and stopping for a chocolat chaud and pastries.

Another added bonus is that dining and accommodation are much more affordable than in the capital, too. 

This place is basic, yet a practical choice for visiting the city as it’s next to the station – and within walking distance of all the main sights.

Make sure to book a Prestige Room for a family of four.

Jen Carr, the family travel expert and founder of The Travel Mum, shares the best affordable holiday deals for families throughout the week – here.

Jen’s new book ‘Yes You Can Travel With Kids’ is available now on AMAZON.

*Price correct at time of publication.