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The 10 under-the-radar Spanish holiday hotspots that will be dirt cheap this summer

BRITS have a habit of booking the same Spanish holidays on repeat.
Benidorm. Marbella. Palma. Salou.

And fair enough – they are popular for a reason. But after years of working in travel and digging through the data, I’ve found something interesting.

Manilva on the Costa del Sol, in Andalusia, is an often-overlooked Spanish gem Credit: Alamy

The best-value holidays in Spain are often sitting right next door to the famous places.

So you can book and get the same sunshine, the same beaches and often the same flights – but you pay a fraction of the price, even in summer.

So here are 10 under-the-radar Spanish resorts that could save you hundreds this year.

Manilva, Costa del Sol

Manilva feels like Marbella…but without the price tag.

If Marbella feels a bit too “Champagne prices”, Manilva is what you book instead.

It sits right on the edge of the Costa del Sol, near Gibraltar, so you’re still getting that same guaranteed sunshine and polished coastline – just without the mass tourism or inflated prices.

The beaches are long, clean and far less packed, and the whole place feels calmer and more local.

With an historic old town, quaint fishing village and peaceful surrounding vineyards, there is something for everyone.

It’s the kind of spot where you can actually get a table by the sea without booking a week in advance.

And crucially: everything is cheaper. Drinks, meals, and especially accommodation.

Book a trip to Manilva

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£200pp for five nights at Pierre & Vacances Terrazas Costa del Sol, flying from Bournemouth at the end of August – which is basically peak summer for the price of a shoulder-season trip.

Book here

Guardamar del Segura has a calmer, totally different atmosphere from nearby buzzy Benidorm Credit: Alamy

Guardamar del Segura, Costa Blanca

This is Benidorm’s quieter, cheaper neighbour.

Just down the coast from Benidorm, Guardamar feels like a completely different holiday.

You’ve got huge, natural beaches backed by sand dunes, proper Spanish restaurants, and far fewer crowds.

But you’re still within easy reach of Alicante and all the infrastructure that makes this coastline so easy.

It’s massively underrated, and that’s exactly why it stays cheap.

Food is a standout here too – you can easily eat well for under €15, and a pint will rarely set you back more than €3.

Book a trip to Guardamar del Segura

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£250pp for five nights at Playas de Guardamar, flying from Belfast at the end of August.

Book here

Platja de S’ Arenal in Majorca looks almost Caribbean with its white sands and turquoise seas Credit: Alamy

El Arenal, Majorca

El Arenal is somewhere I’ve been banging on about for a while, because it’s one of the cheapest ways to stay near Palma.

You’re just 10 minutes from the airport, right on a long sandy beach, and a short taxi from Palma Old Town – arguably one of the most underrated city-style breaks in Europe.

So instead of paying premium prices to stay in Palma itself, you base yourself here and dip in and out, with the beach right on your doorstep.

It’s lively, yes – but it’s also incredible value if you use it right.

Book a trip to El Arenal

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£298pp for five nights all inclusive at BLUESEA Costa Verde, flying from Dublin at the end of August.

Book here

Cabo Blanco in Majorca has cheap hotels and dramatic cliffs to explore on coastal walks Credit: Alamy

Cabo Blanco, Majorca

This is the quieter side of Majorca for half the price.

If you want the opposite of Magaluf or Palma, Cabo Blanco is about as chilled as it gets.

It’s set on the south coast with sea views, open space, and a slower pace that feels a world away from the busier parts of the island.

You won’t get big nightlife here – but you will get peace, sunshine, and significantly cheaper hotels.

Perfect if your idea of a holiday is pool, a good book and repeat.

Book a trip to Cabo Blanco

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Just £325pp for five nights all-inclusive at Sun Club El Dorado, flying from Newcastle at the end of August.

Book here

Mijas has a 7.5-mile stretch of smooth sands facing shallow waters – perfect for a dip Credit: Alamy

Mijas, Costa del Sol

Mijas is postcard Spain at a pinch of the price.

Mijas gives you that classic white-village-on-a-hill look, but without the premium price tag you’d get in nearby hotspots.

You’ve got incredible views, a more traditional Spanish feel, and easy access down to the coast when you want beaches.

It’s a great middle ground for holidaymakers – scenic, relaxed, but still well connected.

And again, because it’s not as heavily searched, prices stay lower.

Book a trip to Mijas

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£213pp for five nights at Ona Campanario de Calahonda, flying from Bournemouth at the end of August.

Book here

Can Pastilla is a sunny Spanish destination with golden beaches close to Palma Airport Credit: Alamy

Can Pastilla, Majorca

This Majorca destination offers Palma vibes without the Palma prices.

Can Pastilla is one of the smartest bookings on the island.

You’re right next to Palma Airport, directly on the beach, and just a short cycle or taxi into Palma itself – which means you get the best of both worlds.

City break and beach holiday in one – it’s simple, easy, and consistently good value.

Book a trip to Can Pastilla

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£293pp for five nights at Amic Can Pastilla Hotel, flying from Glasgow at the end of August.

Book here

Stiges is a lesser-visited coastal town overlooked by a 17th-century church Credit: Getty

Sitges, Costa Dorada

Barcelona’s beachy, cheaper cousin, Sitges, is one of those places people feel like they’ve heard of but rarely think to actually book.

It’s just down the coast from Barcelona, with beaches, nightlife, and loads of character – but without the same price pressure as the city itself.

You can even dip into Barcelona for the day, then come back to somewhere more relaxed (and cheaper) in the evening. Best of both worlds.

Book a trip to Sitges

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£323pp for five nights at the four-star Estela Barcelona, flying from London Luton at the end of August.

Book here

La Pineda has a palm-lined promenade with a giant mushroom-shaped monument Credit: Alamy

La Pineda, Costa Dorada

La Pineda – basically Salou, but better value.

La Pineda sits right next to Salou but tends to be cheaper, quieter, and a bit more family-friendly.

You’ve still got easy access to PortAventura, beaches, and everything that makes this area popular, just without the same level of mainstream popularity.

Hotels here often offer better value for money too, especially for families.

Book a trip to La Pineda

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£260pp for five nights at Hotel Best Sol D’Or, flying from East Midlands at the end of August.

Book here

Hospitalet de Llobregat offers pretty Spanish city streets at a lower price than in central Barcelona Credit: Alamy

Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona

Perfect for a Spanish city break without the Barcelona price tag.

Barcelona hotels can get expensive quickly. But if you stay just outside the centre in Hospitalet, you can cut that cost massively while still being a short metro ride from everything.

You’re still doing the Sagrada Familia, the beach, the food – you’re just not paying tourist-centre hotel prices.

It’s one of the easiest ways to do Barcelona on a budget and is proving surprisingly popular with families looking for a little more than a fly-and-flop holiday.

Book a trip to Hospitalet de Llobregat

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£235pp for five nights at Ona Living Barcelona, flying from East Midlands in mid-August.

Book here

Cantabria is home to Playa de El Bocal – a small, sheltered beach in Puerto Chico, Santander Credit: Getty

Cantabria (Northern Spain)

This northern region is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets.

If you think Spain is all dry heat and packed beaches, Cantabria will completely throw you.

This is Spain’s green north – rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and wild coastline that feels closer to northern Italy than the Costa del Sol.

It’s cooler, quieter, and far less built up, which is exactly why it stays so affordable in peak summer.

You’ve got proper Spanish towns, incredible seafood (this is one of the best regions in the country for it), and beaches that feel untouched compared to the south.

And because Brits still massively overlook it, prices haven’t been pushed up in the same way.

Book a trip to Cantabria

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£285pp for five nights at Hotel Miera, flying from London Luton at the end of August – which, for a location this gorgeous in peak summer, feels like a bit of a steal.

Book here

Try a different, lesser-known resort on your next trip to Spain Credit: Getty

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