The top 10 cheapest holiday destinations abroad

Table of Contents

1. The cheapest place to go on holiday
2. The cheapest place to fly to
3. How to find cheap flights
4. How to find cheap holidays

Let’s not beat around the bush: going on holiday is great. It’s a much-needed break from work, responsibilities and real life. Whether you enjoy lounging on a beach somewhere, skiing in the shadows of the Matterhorn or staying up all night throwing shapes on the dance floor, holidays are an important way to rest and recharge.

The only thing is, a lot of holidays can be expensive. Even if you haven’t set your sights quite as high as a fortnight at a five-star luxury resort with poolside waiter service, you shouldn’t need to compromise on quality just because you want to save money. How much you spend doesn’t have to influence how much you enjoy yourself while you’re away. But, the costs can linger at the back of your mind. Especially when it’s not just the cost of the holiday itself, but also car parking, travel insurance, visas, taxes, excursions, food and drink… the list goes on.

You want to enjoy your holiday – because you’ve earned it – so it’s important to find the perfect balance between quality and affordability. And here at Savoo, our team of money-saving experts want to help make that happen.

Where is the cheapest place to go on holiday?

Looking to jet off and enjoy a long weekend away soaking in some new culture, a spot of history and – of course – some local cuisine? We’ve looked at cheap holidays abroad for those short but sweet breaks.

To find the cheapest holiday destinations abroad, we sourced a list of cheap destinations to travel to. From here, we took a look at the average return flight cost, average nightly hotel price, average cheap meal price, average mid-range meal price, average beer price and average coffee price. The total cost was made from the assumption of a holiday being three days (two nights), five cheap meals, one mid-range meal, three beers and six coffees.

Sarajevo, Bosnia

Sarajevo in Bosnia is a small but beautiful city that offers stunning views of the surrounding Dinaric Alps. As recent as 1996, the region was the site of a siege during the Bosnian War, which means it has a deep but sad history. However, it also has fantastic attractions and places to eat, and is a great city if you’re a fan of the traditional Eastern European dish ćevapi.

And the best thing is, the average overall cost of a long weekend to Sarajevo works out at just £213.53. The average cost of a return flight from the UK to Sarajevo International Airport is just £85 and the average cost of one night in a hotel is less than £36. You can find a nice pint for an average of £1.73 and a coffee for just £1.39. You can even enjoy a nice filling meal for as little as £4.32.

While you’re in Sarajevo, there’s plenty to explore without having to spend much. The Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide is somber but important, and tickets cost as low as €6. Or you could walk down the 800m of Olympic bobsleigh and luge track which is a unique way to experience a slice of sporting history. Make an affordable trip to Sarajevo even cheaper by browsing Expedia discount codes.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow in Poland is quickly growing in popularity as a fantastic tourist destination in Europe. Not only is it an incredible city with a varied history, it’s also affordable. The average cost of a long weekend in Krakow is £231.57, with return flights setting you back an average of £59.50. A cheap meal will cost just £7.85, which you can wash down with a beer for £2.94 and end with a coffee that costs £2.72. The cost of a hotel in Krakow is just £35.20 a night, so you can find somewhere comfortable to get your head down after a long day exploring.

There’s so much to see and do in Krakow that a long weekend isn’t likely to be enough time to see it all. But you can have a good go, and some budget-friendly attractions include Wawel Royal Castle, the Stained Glass Museum and the Krakow Pinball Museum. If you venture out of the city centre, admission to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial is free and an important part of modern history.

For thrill-seekers, Energylandia is also not too far and is home to Europe’s largest collection of roller coasters, and tickets cost around 60% less than at Disneyland Paris according to both attractions’ website prices. If you fancy exploring the area in and around Krakow, browse Europcar discount codes to find cheap deals on car rentals.

Warsaw, Poland

Sticking to Poland, Warsaw is also a hugely cheap destination to visit when looking for cheap holidays abroad. There is lots to do in Poland's capital city, including the historic Old Town, the Royal Route, the Blue City Mall and an absolute heap of museums, with many focusing on the history of World War II.

It’s also fantastic if you’re looking for an affordable escape, with the average cost of a long weekend likely to set you back an average of £242.60. A return flight costs an average of £64.30 and one night in a hotel has an average cost of £38.30. A cheap meal costs just £7.91 and a pint of beer is often less than £3. To wake you up, a coffee costs just £2.28.

Find discount codes on flights to Warsaw by browsing British Airways discount codes.

The cheapest places to fly to

Did you know, in many instances, it’s cheaper to fly abroad for the day than it is to visit Manchester from London? That’s right, you can get a round-trip flight to Costa del Sol in Spain for just £51, while a train from London to Manchester costs £54.50 one way. It will even take you a similar time, with the train from London to Manchester taking around 2 hours 45 minutes, while flying to Costa del Sol takes a little under 3 hours.

It’s also fair to say that you’re far more likely to have decent weather and cheap beer by the sea in Costa del Sol than you are in Manchester. Not that we don’t love Manchester, of course – it’s just the sky’s a little more grey.

Or if you fancy some culture and a few cheap pints, you can fly to Prague in the Czech Republic for just £57 return. Rounding out the top five cheapest return flights is Krakow in Poland £59.50, Mallorca in Spain at £62 and Bratislava in Slovakia at £63.40.

And the best part is, if you browse travel vouchers you can make even further savings, making a trip to sunnier spots across Europe even more accessible.

How to find cheap flights

While some cities are consistently cheaper to fly to than others, there are ways to keep the cost of flights down wherever you’d like to go. Here’s how to find cheap flights with five tips from the money-saving maestros at Savoo.

1. Be flexible with dates

During the more popular times to fly, like on Fridays or during the school holidays, flights are often more expensive. If you can, be flexible with the date you fly as it can save you a huge amount of money. But when is the best time to book a holiday? Of course, last-minute deals can save you a ton of money, so if you’re brave, try to hold off booking until a couple of weeks before you want to go.

2. Consider layovers

Flying long distances can be long, tiring and frustrating. For example, flying from London to Tokyo takes around 14 hours. The thought of making this journey even longer can be daunting, but splitting your journey up with a layover can save you lots of money – more than 50% in many cases.

3. Fly to an alternate airport

Sometimes, instead of flying to an airport closest to your destination, consider an airport close by. For example, if you’re headed to Orlando, you don’t just need to fly into Orlando International Airport. Both Melbourne and Tampa have airports with flights from the UK, which can cost a lot less.

4. Use voucher codes and save

Here at Savoo, we know a thing or two (well, a lot more actually) about using voucher codes to save money. Including discounts for travel agents like TUI, airlines like easyJet, holiday parks like , car hire likeEuropcar and more, using voucher codes for different aspects of your break can save you some serious cash.

5. Use incognito mode for searches

When you use the web to search for your holiday, your web browser ‘listens’ by installing cookies, which remember your history and what you’re looking for. That means you’re likely to be shown inflated prices and not the very best prices. Stop your browser from learning your true intentions by using incognito mode on your quest for the best deals – you’ll probably find you’ll see cheaper prices than you might otherwise.

How to travel on a budget

When it comes to travel, there are so many different costs involved that mean your budget can soon spiral. But, there are ways to travel and make sure you stay on top of how much you spend. Our in-house travel money-saving expert, John Connellan has been travelling for over 20 years. You won’t find a trip that John hasn’t taken; skiing holidays, business ventures, all-inclusives and backpacking trips. Here are his top tips for travelling on a budget.

1. Take a close look at your finances and set a total budget for your holiday, including flights, hotels, food and drink and money for attractions and souvenirs
2. Research to see how your costs will be broken down so you’re not just taking a shot in the dark
3. Keep track of everything you spend – so create a spreadsheet (not the most fun of tasks, we know) and make a note every time you crack out your wallet
4. Prioritise what’s most important to you so you don’t miss out on your must-haves
5. While you’re abroad, use cash rather than rely on card, as this prevents you from being charged by your bank and lets you accurately see how much budget you have left
6. Don’t book the first thing you see, shop around for the best prices and try to be flexible where possible
7. Take advantage of offers and discounts to save money on booking your trip – browse travel discount codes and find multiple ways to save
8. Pack efficiently and don’t take checked luggage if you can avoid it, as this increases the cost of your flight, especially with budget airlines
9. Eat like a local and try to avoid busy restaurants that target tourists
10. Even though it’s another expense, always have the correct travel insurance cover just in case – not having it, but needing it, can be incredibly expensive

Conclusion

Just because you want to spend less on your holiday it doesn’t mean you should compromise on quality. There are plenty of ways to get away on a budget while still making sure you have an incredible time and make memories that will last forever. Make sure you do your research and stick to your budget as soon as possible. Even if that isn’t a lot, there are still plenty of places you can go. Remember, it's usually cheaper to fly from London to Costa del Sol and back again than it is to go one way to Manchester by train. The cost of a pint is likely to be a lot less, too – and who can argue with that?

Are you ready to set off on your next international adventure and pay less for the privilege? Get a Savoo discount code and save money on your travels with our range of quality brands.