Top 5 value-for-money holiday hotspots

If the recent taste of warmer weather has whet your appetite for sunshine, you may be dreaming of balmy days on sunny shores.

By Nicole Hamer |

12:43 03 May 2013

But with household finances stretched to the max up and down the country, getting more for their holiday money is the top priority for many families. In fact, recent research by TravelSupermarket showed that a hefty 42% of people consider price as the most important factor when booking a holiday,ahead of both weather and accommodation.

 

But the good news is that there are plenty of holidays out there that will give you a dose of much- needed sunshine as well as being kind to your pocket.A recent report by the Post Office revealed that prices are tumbling in many popular holiday resorts, meaning that you’ll get more for your money while you’re away.

 

So, to help you make a cost-conscious decision this summer, here’s a roundup of five value-for-money destinations.

 

Portugal

 

The Algarve in Portugal came up trumps in the Post Office’s recent holiday costs barometer, which looks at the prices of a basket of 10 popular tourist items such as food, drink and sun-cream.

 

Sunny Albufeira came outas the most cost-effective option in the Post Office’s research, where the price of a three-course meal for two with wine, for example, came out at just £20.56.

 

Opting for self-catering in a resort such as this would mean you could regularly dine out without worrying about it making too much of a dent in your holiday budget. Items such as sun-cream and insect repellent came in at £8.41 and £4.67 respectively.

 

But it’s not just your pocket that will benefit from a holiday in Albufeira. With its sun-kissed coastline, miles of sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife, it’s a great option for families, couples and singles alike.

 

So, if Portugal sounds like it could be for you, get ready to snap up a deal. When looking for bargains, we found a seven-night holiday in a four-star hotel (room only), flying from Birmingham on August 30 for just £275 per person.

 

Spain

 

According to research by TravelSupermarket, flopping on the beach still remains a top priority for Brits this year with 27% saying that this was the type of holiday they were planning as their main break.And, with its abundance of sandy stretches, Spain was chosen as the most popular overseas holiday destination.

 

The good news for those planning a getaway to the home of flamenco and tapas is that the Costas faired exceptionally well on the Post Office’s holiday costs barometer too. In the last year, for example, prices have plummeted by up to 20% in popular resorts such as the Costa del Sol.

 

The economy of both Spain and Portugal has taken a battering lately, so the reason for these tumbling prices is due to restaurateurs, bar owners and shops fighting for trade – meaning that holidaymakers reap the benefits.

 

Enjoying a long cool beer at the pool-side will now set you back just £1.50 in Javea on the Costa Blanca, while you can relax over a three-course meal for two with wine inTorremolinos on the Costa del Sol for a reasonable £28.04.

 

Holidays here really do have something for everyone. Whether you want to top up your tan on the beach, tee your way around a golf course, explore local history and culture or make a splash with the kids in a waterpark, a holiday on Spain’s sunny coastline is a great all-rounder.

 

And getting there won’t cost you a fortune, even if you’re travelling during the peak summer season. For example, we found a seven-night holiday to Benidorm leaving Liverpool on July 25 on a self-catering basis for just £343 per person.

 

Bulgaria

 

Sunshine seekers wanting to exploreless of a mainstream destination could find that beautiful Bulgaria (http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/bulgaria/) rel="nofollow" fits the bill.
Coming out top in last year’s Post Office barometer, the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach is still riding high, with low resort costs meaning you won’t blow your budget on essentials. For example, a cup of coffee here will set you back just £1.22, and sun-cream will cost you £4.15.

 

While Bulgaria may have fallen to fourth place since last year, it’s still very cheap in comparison to many other resorts, with only 98p sitting between it and top of the table Albufeira.

 

Jet off to this holiday destination to enjoy soaring mountains, a dramatic coastline and miles of golden sand. And if you’re prepared to travel out of peak season, you can get some fantastic deals.For example, we found a seven-night break for two adults, flying from London on June 28 and staying on a self-catering basis in Bourgasfor just £299.

 

Cyprus

 

While Cyprus  may have recently hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, holidaymakers in the know haven‘t been deterred.

 

With its fantastic climate, vibrant resorts and abundance of history, the country still has a lot to offer holidaymakers of all ages.

 

Culture vultures will love exploring the resort of Paphos  with its charming old town, Tomb of the Kings and Aphrodite’s Rock, and prices here were again found to be reasonable in the Post Office barometer. You could enjoy munching on a mezze in this fishing harbour without your wallet feeling too stretched as a three-course meal with wine for two came in at £35.41.

 

If you’re itching to get away, there are some great deals waiting to be snapped up. We found a seven-night self-catering holiday in three-star accommodation for two adults, leaving from Luton on May 11 from £190 per person.

 

Turkey

 

East-meets-west in cosmopolitan Turkey , and whether you want to soak up the sun on golden sands, to discover an underwater paradise on an organised dive, or to explore the relics of ancient civilisations, an abundance of options awaits you in this popular holiday destination.

 

Consider resorts such as vibrant Marmaristo help your holiday budget go further. A three-course meal for two with wine will set you back £32.13 according to the Post Office barometer, while a 1.5 litre bottle of supermarket mineral water will cost you £0.80.
Book your bargain break today by checking out TravelSupermarket. We found a seven-night holiday staying in a three-star self-catering apartment with flights leaving on September 1 from Gatwick for £232.

 

Top tips for a bargain break

 

While it’s important to do your research and look into resort costs, there are a number of other factors that you need to take into consideration to make your money go further on holiday. Here are some of our top tips:

 

• Don’t assume that because living costs are cheap in one resort in a country, it will be the same across all resorts. For example, a three-course meal in Palma Nova in Majorca came in at £22.43 on the Post Office barometer, while Mahon on Menorca came in at a substantially higher cost of £53.36. And if you’re considering Turkey as a holiday option, those choosing a resort such as Bodrum rather than Marmaris can expect to pay over 53% more for the same holiday items.

 

• Always pre-order your holiday currency. The best rates can be found online  but if you do leave it too late, still call ahead and pre-order it from the airport you are travelling from.

 

• Don’t be caught out by inflight extras. Extortionate prices on food and drink will put a dent in your budget before you’ve even stepped off the plane, so bring a packed lunch and buy drinks in the airport. For more on this read CathyToogood’s article ‘Beware the inflight catering rip off’

 

• Shop around for your travel insurance to find the best deal. And if you are travelling more than twice a year, an annual policy is likely to be more economical than buying a number of single policy options.

 

• Be realistic when choosing your accommodation type. For example, if you are considering all-inclusive, make sure you are going to use this to its full advantage. Deciding when you get there that you want to eat out to try the local cuisine rather than dining in the hotelcould see you paying twice for food. Join the debate about whether all-inclusive or self-catering articles save the most money by going to Cathy Toogood’s blog post ‘Holidays: All-inclusive versus self-catering.’

 

• If you can travel light, take hand luggage onlyto help you avoid extra costs on your flight. And make sure you know what your luggage allowances are so you aren’t stungby hefty fines.

 

What are your tips for having a bargain holiday and which resorts have you found make your money go further? We’d love to hear from you so leave a comment below.