Top budget-friendly holiday destinations for UK travellers

Wanderlust can strike when you least expect it – maybe even when you’re tightening your purse strings. Some of the cheapest destinations for a package holiday from the UK include parts of Spain and Greece, according to consumer group Which? So, we’ve taken a closer look at these destinations and local prices of food and drinks and travel.

Spain, in southwestern Europe, is known for its balmy weather, its beautiful beaches, and its potential for a bargain break. Which? named Costa Brava, along the Catalonian coast of northern Spain, the fifth cheapest destination for a package holiday in 2024, while Costa de la Luz, on the Andalusian coast to the southwest of the country, is number eight in the list, making these parts of Spain among the cheapest holiday destinations from the UK.  

Temperatures reach 35°C during summer in central Spain, while Costa Brava and Barcelona, on the north-eastern Mediterranean coast, can see average highs of 30°C in July and August and around 15°C during winter. For those considering Costa Brava, Malgrat de Mar is a quieter alternative to the well-known Lloret de Mar. Head south to Costa del Sol resorts like Malaga or south-west to Costa de la Luz hotspots such as Cadiz to find average highs of 31°C in July. 

Food and drinks 

Whether you’re tucking into Catalan cuisine like ‘sea and mountain rice’ on the Costa Brava or skewered sardines and deep-fried calamari on the Costa del Sol, you can find plenty of good value food in Spain. 

Three-course meals at typical mid-range restaurants cost anywhere between €15 and €25 per person. And wherever you are in the country, Spain is well-known for its tapas culture. These small, shared plates are a staple, often costing between €2.50 and €5 per serving. Look out for restaurants with a “menú del día”, dedicated lunch menus that include a choice of starters, main courses, and a dessert or coffee.

Transport

If you’re on a package holiday, you’ll likely fly direct to a nearby airport, such as Malaga Airport for the Costa del Sol or Jerez Airport for the Costa de la Luz. 

But if you are planning on travelling around Spain, you’ll find the high-speed rail network (AVE) gets you between major cities fast. Say you’re basing yourself in Madrid in central Spain. Once you’ve enjoyed the history and culture of the capital, you could take the train down to Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, in around two-and-half hours, for between €35 and €80.

On the other hand, if you want to go north from Madrid towards Barcelona and the Costa Brava, you can get from the capital to Girona in around three-and-a-half hours for between €60 and €85. From Girona, it’s only around one hour to the coastal resorts of Malgrat de Mar and Lloret de Mar.

If you want to go south from Madrid to the Costa de la Luz by train, you could go as far as Seville on the high-speed network. From there to Cadiz, you would need to take the slower hybrid trains, however. To get an idea of costs and journey times, you can travel between Madrid and Cadiz in around five hours. Ticket prices can vary from under €40 up to €130, depending on what ticket your purchase and when.

If you’re staying along the southern coast only, you can travel along the Costa del Sol on the commuter train, between Malaga and Fuengirola, with one-way tickets priced by zones, ranging between €2 and €4. But for parts of the coast the rail network doesn’t extend to, such as Marbella, you’d need to travel by local bus. Travel within the major cities, such as Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, is easy thanks to the cities’ metro systems, where single trips cost anywhere from €1.50 to €3.  

Greece, in southeastern Europe, offers the best of both worlds. Warm weather and turquoise seas invite coastal exploration, while ancient ruins reflect its steeped history. Some of Greece’s islands offer the best value holiday destinations, Which? named Kalymnos, Thassos and Lefkada the top three cheapest package holiday destinations in 2024.

Kalymnos, in the southeast Aegean Sea, is one of the Dodecanese Islands, and geographically not far from Kos. Thassos is the most northern of the Greek Islands, just off the mainland. And Lefkada is one of the Ionian Islands, just off the west coast of mainland Greece. 

In general, Greece has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Average temperatures reach around 29°C on Crete in July and August, for example, and fall to about 15°C in the winter. While on Kos, which is near to Kalymnos, you can expect average maximum temperatures of up to 34°C in July and August. And on Kefalonia, which is relatively close to Lefkada, average temperatures can reach 31°C in July, falling to around 15°C in the winter. 

Food and drinks 

Each Greek Island offers its own specialties when it comes to cuisine. From Kefalonia’s rich meat pie to grilled octopus on Kalymnos and Corfu’s spicy fish stew. 

But in most places, you can find budget-friendly options like souvlaki joints and local tavernas for just a few euros. The famous gyros (cooked meat) can cost around €3-€5, while a platter of mezze (dips, breads, and cheeses) can be a cost-effective and delicious way to experience Greek cuisine. Be on the lookout for restaurants with menus not printed in English or German – these are normally more authentic and local, with potentially lower prices.

Transport

Most major Greek Islands have their own airports, so you’ll fly directly to the island – for example, if you’re going to Kos, or Rhodes, or Kefalonia. But if you holiday on the lesser known islands of Kalymnos and Thassos then you would need to fly from the UK to mainland Greece or one of the bigger islands and take the ferry from there. The nearest airport to Kalymnos is on Kos. You can then take a ferry to the smaller island for around €10. With Lefkada, the nearest airport is Preveza and a bridge there joins the mainland to the island. You can cross via bus for around €3-€5. 

If you are travelling around one of the Greek islands, then your main option is bus – there are no trains on the islands. Bigger islands such as Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu, are connected to the KTEL bus network. Short trips on Crete, for example, cost between €2 and €5. 

If you are holidaying on mainland Greece, you can use the Hellenic Train to travel between cities. For example, the trip between Larissa, in central Greece, and Athens, in the south, takes around four hours and costs around €14 to €20. Within Athens you can easily get around the city via its metro system or bus, with up to 90 minutes of travel for under €2.

Whether you’re heading to sunny Spain or gorgeous Greece, get ahead of your holiday planning with travel insurance from Sainsbury’s Bank.