Looking for a genuinely cheap holiday this summer? We compare low-cost flights, family packages,
all-inclusive deals and less obvious destinations—then show you how to calculate the real price
after bags, transfers, meals and other extras.
times a day. Treat every price as a snapshot and confirm the full checkout total before paying.
Portugal
from about £38 return
Portugal currently has some of the lowest UK return fares in the comparison, with Faro often the best-value gateway.
Bare fare only: bags, seats and airport costs may be extra.
Bulgaria
packages from about £160pp
Sunny Beach remains one of the strongest conventional beach-package options for travellers prioritising price.
The lowest examples may be short stays or limited departure dates.
Turkey
strongest total-value contender
Flights alone are not always the cheapest, but meals, drinks, pools, entertainment, luggage and transfers can make Turkey excellent family value.
Albania
flights from about £78 return
Albania can combine low-cost apartments, affordable meals and attractive beaches—provided you budget for the transfer from Tirana.
Morocco
about £120pp per night
A recent TravelSupermarket and icelolly.com comparison put Morocco ahead of Tunisia, Bulgaria and Malta on average August all-inclusive price.
Spain
London returns from about £32
Spain’s extensive flight network and huge accommodation supply make it the easiest place to search across airports, resorts and board types.
The Sun Holidays from £9.50
from £38 for four sharing
Current UK and European holiday-park availability, plus a £3.20 booking fee and any selected extras.
The MoneyMagpie verdict
Start with Portugal for a cheap DIY flight-and-apartment break.
Start with Bulgaria for a low-cost European beach package.
Start with Turkey for a family all-inclusive holiday.
Start with Morocco or Tunisia when the lowest all-inclusive total matters more than remaining in Europe.
Keep Albania as the wildcard—but calculate airport transfers before booking.
How we compared summer holiday prices
A useful comparison must use the same assumptions for every destination. The headline examples in
this guide focus on travel during August 2026 and fares available to UK travellers. Search results
can mix different departure airports, dates and trip lengths, so they should be treated as
starting points rather than identical like-for-like quotes.
Use this search checklist
- Seven nights
- Two adults sharing
- August 2026 travel
- London plus regional airports
- One small cabin bag each
- One shared checked bag
- Transfers included in the total
- Room-only and self-catering quote
- Separate all-inclusive quote
- Final checkout price recorded
£130 flight once a suitcase, larger cabin bag, seats and airport travel are added. A package that
looks dearer may include luggage, transfers and meals.
Summer 2026 price snapshot
| Destination | Current lead-in example | Best for | Cost trap to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | UK return fares from about £38 | Cheap DIY break | Popular Algarve accommodation |
| Spain | London returns from about £32 | Choice and flexibility | Bags, resort transfers and tourist tax |
| Greece | UK returns from about £63; London from about £64 | Island choice | Ferries and remote transfers |
| Bulgaria | Package examples from about £160pp | Lowest European package | Hotel quality and flight times |
| Turkey | Package examples from about £249pp | Family all-inclusive | Long airport-to-resort transfers |
| Morocco | All-inclusive average about £120pp per night | Lowest all-inclusive average | Hotel extras and local conditions |
| Tunisia | All-inclusive average about £124pp per night | Budget resort holiday | Choosing a poor-quality hotel solely on price |
| Albania | Return flights from about £78; package examples from £235pp | Wildcard beach break | Transfer time from Tirana |
“From” prices can apply to a single date, airport or limited number of seats. Package examples may
be for five or six nights rather than seven. Always open the result and recreate the quote using
your own passenger details.
Spain: best for choice and cheap flight competition
from about £32 return
London-to-Spain returns were available from around this level when checked. Prices in the school holidays can be much higher.
Best-value regions to search
Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Costa Brava. Also check Valencia and northern Spanish gateways rather than searching only the islands.
Spain is often the easiest destination for bargain hunters because there are so many competing
routes. Search Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona, Girona, Valencia and Palma separately. The Balearic
and Canary Islands may have attractive package prices, but mainland Spain often wins on flights
and transfers.
Benidorm can be particularly practical for travellers without a car because it has a large
accommodation market and established transfer options. For the Costa del Sol, compare
Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Nerja rather than assuming central Malaga is cheapest.
Greece: compare islands rather than countries
from about £63 return
UK-to-Greece return fares started at around this level when checked, with London examples from roughly £64.
Best buying strategy
Search Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Zante, Kefalonia, Athens and Preveza independently. The cheapest island can change by the day.
Crete’s large accommodation market can make it more competitive than smaller islands; search both
Heraklion and Chania. Rhodes and Corfu have plenty of packages, while Preveza can unlock Lefkas and
the mainland coast.
A flight into Athens may look cheap but does not automatically create a cheap beach holiday.
Add buses, ferries, overnight stays and baggage before comparing it with a direct island package.
Portugal: cheapest place to fly in this comparison
UK return fares from about £38
London-to-Faro fares were showing from around £47 for August. Travellers able to use other UK airports or flexible dates may see different results.
The Algarve is the obvious beach choice, but central Albufeira and Lagos can be expensive.
Compare Olhão, Portimão, Quarteira, Tavira, Monte Gordo and Armação de Pêra.
Portugal works particularly well for two adults travelling with light luggage and staying in an
apartment. Families should still compare package prices because checked bags and transfers can
remove much of the DIY saving.
Best destinations for a cheap package
Best European holiday package
Bulgaria
Sunny Beach and nearby resorts remain among Europe’s strongest budget package choices. Recent
advertised examples started at around £160 per person, while an August all-inclusive comparison
averaged about £126 per person per night.
Best for: a straightforward beach holiday, apartment complexes and low local spending.
Best family all-inclusive
Turkey
Turkey often wins on total family cost rather than its bare airfare. Recent family package
examples included Antalya resorts from about £249 per person, while many packages bundle
luggage, transfers, meals, drinks and entertainment.
Best for: families with hungry children or teenagers and travellers who want a predictable spending budget.
Lowest all-inclusive averages
Morocco and Tunisia
A recent summer comparison put Morocco at about £120 per person per night and Tunisia at
about £124. These averages are not guaranteed quotes, but they show why both countries deserve
a place in the comparison.
Best for: travellers happy to prioritise resort facilities, meals and value over a DIY itinerary.
The Sun’s current Holidays from £9.50
The Sun’s Holidays from £9.50 promotion is currently open, with last-minute 2026 breaks and advance 2027 dates at more than 200 holiday parks in the UK and Europe.
Participating European parks include options in countries such as Spain, France and Italy, so this should be checked alongside flights and conventional package holidays—particularly by families who are happy with a self-catering caravan or holiday park.
Important: it is not necessarily a £9.50 total holiday.
- The headline price is per person, based on four people sharing.
- That means the basic accommodation price starts from £38 for four people.
- A £3.20 booking fee applies.
- Upgrades, transport, food and some park facilities may cost extra.
- Dates and the cheapest accommodation are subject to availability.
How to book: readers can collect the required codewords or use Sun Savers. Sun Club members can book without collecting codes; membership is advertised at £1.99 a month or £12 a year.
MoneyMagpie verdict: this can be one of the cheapest ways to secure accommodation for a short UK break. For a European park, add ferry, Eurotunnel, flights, car hire, fuel, tolls and transfers before comparing it with a package holiday.
Wildcard cheap places to go
Albania
Return flights were available from about £78, while recent package examples for Sarandë started at about £235pp.
Search: Vlorë, Durrës, Himarë and accommodation outside central Sarandë.
Northern Spain
Santander, Asturias and Galicia can be cheaper and less crowded than famous Mediterranean resorts.
Watch for: less predictable beach weather than southern Spain.
Malta
A compact island where public transport can remove the need for car hire. Compare Bugibba, Qawra and Mellieħa.
Watch for: high prices in the most popular areas and peak weeks.
A UK coastal break
Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Lancashire, South Wales and the Yorkshire coast can beat an overseas holiday after all flight extras are included.
Watch for: car fuel, parking and restaurant spending.
Is the cheapest holiday also a safe holiday?
Safety must be checked at the time of booking—and again before departure
A low price should never override official travel advice. Check the UK Foreign, Commonwealth
& Development Office page for the exact country and region you plan to visit. Advice can
change quickly and may include warnings, entry rules, wildfire information, demonstrations,
terrorism risks, local laws and health guidance.
Wildfires and extreme heat
Southern Europe can experience summer wildfires and dangerous heat. Portugal’s current FCDO
advice highlights a high wildfire risk from April to October. Follow local evacuation
instructions, avoid closed areas and never assume a low-cost hotel is safe simply because it
remains bookable online.
Insurance and official warnings
Buy insurance as soon as you book and disclose medical conditions. Check whether your policy
remains valid if official advice changes. Appropriate cover should include your activities,
medical treatment, cancellation and repatriation.
Water and balcony safety
Check recent reviews for pool supervision, slippery surfaces, balcony security and child-safe
windows. Never rely solely on hotel star ratings when travelling with young children.
Transport safety
Research the transfer operator, use official taxis and check child-seat arrangements before
arrival. A very cheap, isolated property may leave you dependent on costly or unsuitable transport.
flight-inclusive package if the organiser fails, but it does not replace insurance for illness,
cancellation, lost belongings or medical emergencies. Confirm the travel company’s ATOL number
and keep the certificate issued after booking.
Package holiday or DIY: which is really cheapest?
A package is more likely to win when…
- You are travelling as a family.
- You need checked luggage.
- You want all-inclusive meals.
- The resort is far from the airport.
- A free child place is available.
- You are choosing Turkey, Tunisia or Morocco.
DIY is more likely to win when…
- Two adults are travelling.
- You can use small cabin bags.
- Your dates and airports are flexible.
- You want an apartment.
- Public transport is practical.
- You can travel for six, eight or nine nights.
Fourteen ways to pay less
- Compare departure airports. Include the cost of reaching each one.
- Search individual airports abroad. “Greece” and “Spain” are too broad.
- Try six, eight or nine nights. Exactly seven nights is not always cheapest.
- Avoid Saturday-to-Saturday where possible.
- Use whole-month fare calendars.
- Compare a family search with two-adult pricing. Child promotions can alter the result.
- Price every board basis. Room-only can cost more overall after meals.
- Share checked luggage. One family suitcase may be enough.
- Check transfer prices before buying the flight.
- Add local accommodation taxes.
- Check the final payment screen. Never rely on the first advertised price.
- Read recent reviews. Filter for families, cleanliness and current building work.
- Check financial protection. Verify ATOL rather than trusting a logo alone.
- Buy only when the full price is affordable. Last-minute prices can rise as well as fall.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest place to fly this summer?
In this price snapshot, Portugal produced UK return fares from about £38. Spain was also highly competitive, with London returns from about £32. The cheapest usable option depends on your airport, baggage and dates.
What is the best cheap European package destination?
Bulgaria is the strongest low-cost European package contender in this comparison. Sunny Beach offers a large stock of budget accommodation and recent package examples from about £160 per person.
Which destination is best for a cheap family all-inclusive holiday?
Turkey is often strongest for total family value because many packages include flights, luggage, transfers, meals, drinks, pools and entertainment. Morocco and Tunisia can also offer very competitive all-inclusive totals.
Is it cheaper to book flights and a hotel separately?
It can be for flexible couples travelling light, particularly to Portugal or mainland Spain. Packages often win for families, checked luggage, long transfers and all-inclusive hotels.
How can I check whether a cheap holiday is safe?
Read the FCDO advice for the country and specific region, check recent hotel reviews, research transfers, buy suitable insurance and recheck official advice shortly before departure. Never assume that availability on a booking website means there are no safety concerns.
Price sources include live fare-comparison pages and recently advertised package examples available
on 13 July 2026. Safety and consumer-protection information should always be checked directly with
the FCDO, the Civil Aviation Authority/ATOL and the travel provider before booking.
