How to get cheap family holidays to Spain, Greece, Italy and more

It's no secret that holidays are expensive, especially when you're looking to travel outside of term-time.

The good news is you can slash your costs even during peak times - you'll just need to do a little research and choose your destination wisely.

Research from M&S Bank has found that holidaymakers can shave an average of £388 off a half-term holiday this month by choosing a similar holiday resort in the same country.

Sweden offers the biggest reduction, with a family of four saving £932 if they choose to visit Gothenburg rather than Stockholm. Direct flights to Gothenburg are almost three times cheaper than flying to Stockholm’s main airport, costing £524 for a family of four compared to £1,492.

Similarly, holidaymakers heading to Portugal can cut the cost of their trip by almost 25% if they visit Alvor rather than the popular Funchal.

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Gothenburg, Sweden

Don't go there, go here

OK, let’s talk numbers. Here are some of the best alternatives to popular destinations and how much you could save.

*This includes seven nights’ accommodation, flights, dinners, spending money and one activity.

Despite the evidence that lesser-known destinations are less expensive only 14% of adults believe alternative holiday spots offer better value for money. However, 76% of us say we’d be open to visiting places we haven’t heard of if they are cheaper.

“Although holiday prices have risen slightly – partly due to the decline in value of sterling against the euro – families can still pocket savings this half-term by looking for alternatives to the more popular tourist destinations,” says Paul Stokes, head of products at M&S Bank.

“As well as saving money, families can also discover new destinations that are off the beaten track.”

The cheapest half-term holiday destinations

If you are looking for a cheap break this half term, consider Bulgarian holiday resorts Nessebar and Sunny Beach as they top the list of cheap destinations, according to M&S Bank.

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