How to get cheap family holidays to Spain, Greece, Italy and more
Consider these alternative destinations for a cheaper family getaway.
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
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OK, let’s talk numbers. Here are some of the best alternatives to popular destinations and how much you could save.
|
Country |
Destination |
Cost per family* |
Total saving |
|
Sweden |
Stockholm |
£2,904 |
£932 (32%) |
|
Gothenburg |
£1,972 |
||
|
Portugal |
Funchal |
£2,960 |
£724 (25%) |
|
Alvor |
£2,236 |
||
|
Croatia |
Dubrovnik |
£2,588 |
£636 (25%) |
|
Sibenik |
£1,952 |
||
|
Greece |
Crete |
£2,804 |
£512 (18%) |
|
Zakynthos |
£2,292 |
||
|
Spain |
Barcelona |
£2,496 |
£312 (13%) |
|
Fuengirola |
£2,184 |
||
|
France |
Nice |
£2,724 |
£260 (10%) |
|
Montpellier |
£2,464 |
||
|
Canary Islands |
Lanzarote |
£2,608 |
£252 (10%) |
|
La Gomera |
£2,356 |
||
|
Italy |
Amalfi Coast |
£2,888 |
£160 (6%) |
|
Arzachena |
£2,728 |
||
|
Bulgaria |
Sunny Beach |
£1,864 |
£52 (3%) |
|
Nessebar |
£1,812 |
||
|
Montenegro |
Budva |
£2,300 |
£36 (2%) |
|
Petrovac |
£2,264 |
*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.
|
|
2016 per family |
2015 per family |
% difference |
£ difference |
|
Nessebar, Bulgaria |
£1,812 |
£1,777 |
2.0% |
£35 |
|
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria |
£1,864 |
£1,826 |
2.1% |
£38 |
|
Sibenik, Croatia |
£1,952 |
£1,901 |
2.7% |
£51 |
|
Gothenburg, Sweden |
£1,972 |
£1,826 |
8.0% |
£146 |
|
Fuengirola, Spain |
£2,184 |
£2,122 |
2.9% |
£62 |
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