Best budget summer holiday destinations

If you’re looking to save on your summer vacation then forget the traditional penny-pinching staycation – these sun-soaked destinations will offer a much better return for your holiday pound.

Majorca: Just a short haul flight away, Majorca offers the traditional ‘sun, sea and sand’ combination as well as a selection of fantastic restaurants, plenty of activities for the kids and a surprisingly fascinating history. With package providers such as On The Beach offering constant deals on all-inclusive trips to Majorca, it’s also a great choice for those looking to save this summer.

Bulgaria: Holiday-makers in search of a bargain are beginning to look away from the traditional Mediterranean resorts towards Eastern Europe. Countries like Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are still much cheaper than more established destinations, and along the Black Sea Coast you’ll find stunning sandy beaches, luxury hotels, sublime seafood restaurants and plenty of places to party.

Portugal: Fancy a spot of budget wine-tasting? Forget France and Italy – Portugal is the place to take your pound. The town of Porto is served by a number of budget airlines and the surrounding district is the wine (and of course the port) capital of the country with a number of vineyards and low-price lodges offering wine tasting tours. Vinologia in the Ribeira district is a good place to start.

Greek Islands

Greece: We hate to make light of a crisis, but perhaps the sole advantage of Greece’s current economic problems is that prices are set to return to pre-boom levels. Add a huge diversity of ancient archaeological sites, more beautiful beaches than you can count and resorts catering to everybody from retirees to young partygoers, and you have the perfect budget holiday destination.

Mexico: Fancy an exotic long-haul holiday in the sun but can’t afford the prices of traditional destinations like Florida and the Caribbean? Then look to Mexico, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in South America as well as a selection of luxurious but low-priced resorts. Merida, inland from the Yucatan coast, is a beautiful city and a great place to start any tour of the country.