With many of us feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis, we’re all looking for ways to cut our costs but still enjoy life. And going on holiday is an important part of that.
Yes, you want sunshine and the good life, but you don’t want to pay over the odds for it.
France
Restaurants: Some of the best affordable restaurants in Paris start from £20-30 per meal
Transportation: Get a Navigo pass for unlimited travel (£18.50 per week)
Museums: Some of the best Paris activities include visiting world-renowned museums like the Louvre (£10-£13 entry fee)
Accommodation: Stay at tech-friendly campsites (£10-£30 per night)
Morocco
Morocco is perfect for UK travellers looking to branch away from European holiday destinations – it’s not too far on the plane, but the North African country is bursting with Berber culture, desert landscapes and bustling bazaars. Casablanca and Marrakech offer a mix of ornate architecture and crafts markets, while Essaouira on the west coast is a beautifully faded seaside resort (Jimi Hendrix famously holidayed there in the summer of 1969).
Riad Ghali & Spa in Marrakech has rooms from £65 per night, while £15 per night is all you’ll be charged at The House by Riad Inna in Essaouira.
Elsewhere in the country, you can see the Atlas Mountains – said to be the falling place of the Greek god Atlas, when the weight of the world got too much for his shoulders – or head down to the ochre swathes of the Sahara Desert and book a camel ride.
Meal in a local restaurant: £3
Meal in a fancy restaurant: £15
Local beer: £2
Taxis: 40p per km
Budget hotel or hostel: from £5 per night
Midrange hotel or a riad in Marrakech: £30-40 per night
Turkey (Türkiye)
History, culture and practically guaranteed sunshine… Turkey has it all. First stop on your budget-friendly travel adventure is Istanbul. Try street-food specialty Balik Ekmek – a catch-of-the-day fish sandwich – then visit the Hagia Sophia. This 1,500-year-old complex was used as a church in the Byzantine era and then a mosque by the Ottomans. Since its recent conversion back into a mosque, entry is now free.
Aside from its epic historical significance, Turkey
We’re fans of small, friendly guesthouses, and you’re sure to get a warm welcome at Istanbul’s ornate Buyukada Cankaya Hotel, where rooms cost around £100 a night.
Meal in a local restaurant: £3
Meal in a fancy restaurant: £15
Local beer: £2
Taxis: 40p per km
Budget hotel: less than £10 per night
Midrange hotel: £30-40 per night
India
The mother of all adventure destinations, India doesn’t always scream ‘luxury’ – but travelling in this awe-inspiring country has its rewards. And one of the biggest will be for your wallet.
A few weeks spent hopping between colourful cities, temples and historical landmarks via trains and by road need only set you back around £300. That’s because the average budget per day for three meals, drinks, a few rickshaw journeys and a comfy bed can cost less than £20 per person. And off the beaten track, you may find things even cheaper.
Entry into the Taj Mahal is around £10, and a multi-day Himalayan hiking trip with a private guide will prove to be one of the most competitively priced, epic adventure experiences you’ll find in the world.
Meal in a local restaurant or street food: from 50p
Meal in a nice restaurant: often less than £5
Local beer: 70p
Rickshaws: 20p per km, but drivers are open to haggling. Try to agree a set price before your trip!
Trains: £15-20 for a long, overnight journey
Budget hotel or hostel in Goa: from £5 per night
Midrange hotel in New Delhi: £15-30 per night
Spain
Even if you’re in the pricier cities like Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia, you can pick up cheap tapas meals in the local restaurants away from the tourist areas. Plus, there are campsites all over the country to reduce the cost of your accommodation..
Dining out: A dish at a mid-range restaurant in Madrid can cost between £8.50-£17 per person
Public transport: A single Metro ticket costs £1-£2
Coffee: A cup of coffee in Madrid typically costs around £1.30
Campsite: From £24 a night in summer
Portugal
Libson itself is a super cool city to visit, whether you eat in the Time Out Market, climb up to the castle or ride the number 28 tram. Porto is awash with wine, port and culture whilst the Algarve brings some sunshine without breaking your budget.
3 course meal in tourist restaurant: £20
Local beer: £3 for a pint
Pastel de Nata: £1 each
Local train ride: Between £1 and £3 depending on the distance
Vietnam
La Vela Saigon Hotel. Or you can stay in a local guesthouse for around £20 per night. You can even stay in the famous Grand Plaza Hotel in Hanoi for around £80 a night too. That’s super cheap for a 5-star hotel in a capital city.
Plus you can enjoy a roadside fresh beer in Hanoi for around 30p and pick up some street food for £1.
Get into safari mode early on by booking into one of the large luxury tents at the Wildebeest Eco Camp in Nairobi for around £25 per night.
Budget hotel: Around £20
From £50-£80
Food: A meal at a local restaurant may cost around £2-£5
Drink: A local beer usually costs about 30-60p
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of the cheapest holiday destinations in Europe. In fact, if you’re up for a party Sunny Beach has been consistently named as one of the most budget-friendly holiday spots anywhere in the world. Aside from the hedonistic lifestyle of Sunny Beach, the Black Sea port city of Varna is well worth a visit. Book a room at the 4-star Capitol Hotel for less than £70 a night.
Away from the beach, Bulgaria has mountains to discover with a hike in the warmer months or with skis in winter. In fact, a skiing holiday in Bulgaria is one of the cheapest you can find in Europe.
For a culture fix, head to the capital city Sofia. Take in the beauty of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, check out the Church of St Paraskeva and take a day trip to visit the Rila Monastery. And stay in the Central Hotel Sofia for around £74 a night.
Meal in a local restaurant or street food: from £10 per person
Meal in a nice restaurant: from £29 per person
Local beer: £1.50 for 500ml
Budget hotel: £38 per night
5-star hotel: £80-100 per night
Indonesia
Your biggest expense with travelling to Indonesia will be the cost of your flight, but you’ll find it’s a super cheap destination once you land. A night at Le Grande Bali can cost you less than £40 for 5-star luxury, whilst the 5-star beach bungalows of Maylie Bali Villa and Bungalows is less than £60 per night.
Relax on the sand, enjoy a beachside beer and dip your toes in the water of this tropical escape, and count the savings you’ve made.
Hungary
Budapest has become increasingly popular in recent years, but it’s still one of the cheapest cities in Europe. So, what to do in Budapest? Have a drink in a crumbling ruin bar, soak yourself in a thermal pool (the Széchenyi Baths are the most popular), visit Buda Castle, check out the shoes on the Danube Bank and marvel at St. Stephen’s Basilica. And don’t forget to explore this stunning city with a river cruise – with Buda on one side and Pest on the other.
And if you love a tipple, get out of the city and explore some of the 22 separate wine regions in Hungary.
In Budapest you can expect to pay anything from £25 a night at a local guesthouse, like the Omega Guesthouse Budapest up to £60 for a night in a 4-star hotel like the Marmara Hotel Budapest.
All prices and details are subject to change and availability.
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