The best summer holidays in Europe for less than £500 ...Middle East

With summer fast approaching, 76 per cent of UK travellers are looking to take more holiday this coming season compared with last year.

That’s according to travel search aggregator Skyscanner, whose latest annual Smarter Summer Report looks at British holidaymakers’ plans.

Even if you haven’t yet made a booking, it’s still possible to find a bargain – particularly if you’re happy to be flexible. According to Skyscanner’s research, three quarters of travellers surveyed said they were open to choosing a less-well known destination over a popular one in order to save money.  

There are some extremely cheap options to lesser-visited destinations available in high season – including a week in Fez, Morocco in July with flights from Stansted for £102pp return and accommodation with breakfast at the four-star Riad Dar Pierre for £371 for two – some tried-and-tested spots are also more affordable than you might expect.

These are some of the least costly places to visit during June, July and August where you can secure a holiday for under £500 per person.

Skyscanner’s research reinforces that shoulder season is the time to avoid peak prices and crowds – and 38 per cent of Britons said they were considering travelling in June or September. This is an excellent month to take a child-free break while the weather is warm but destinations are less busy.

The medieval Place Plumereau in Tours old town (Photo: Faabi/Getty Images)

Tours, central France, is known as a gateway to the Loire Valley, making it a superb base to explore the region’s chateaux and vineyards. The city is packed with historical attractions such as its gothic 12th-century cathedral, Saint-Gatien, and other striking architecture.

Return flights from Stansted with Ryanair are available for as little as £31pp, while a week at the Hotel Mirabeau in the city centre costs from €743 (£629) for two people. According to cost of living database Numbeo, a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs an average of £42.

Once you’re there, spend time wandering the city’s old town, with its half-timbered houses, or head out to the wider region on a wine tour.

Grignano bay in Trieste is popular for sea bathing (Photo: Massimo Scarselletta/Getty Images)

Trieste, Italy

Trieste, northern Italy, is significantly less well-known than nearby Venice and Verona, but its position on the coast – close to the Slovenian border and this year’s borderless European Capitals of Culture (Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy) – makes it well worth a visit for those who like to like to combine a cultural city break with beach time.

We found return Ryanair flights from Stansted for £40, and a week in a self-catering studio apartment at the Hotel Roma starts at £876 for two people. Numbeo data shows a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs £50, on average.

Read Next

Read More

Must-visits in the city include the Piazza Unità d’Italia, the largest seafront square in Europe, packed with historic restaurants and cafes, and the Castello Miramare, set right on the cliffs above the Adriatic Sea. Tickets from €12.

To cool off, head for a swim at one of Trieste’s beaches – favourites include rocky Barcola and I Topolini, the latter flanked by semi-circular 1930s terraces looking out to sea.

July

Holiday prices soar when school terms end, but travelling in July doesn’t have to break the bank. Skyscanner’s research shows that the cheapest week to travel this summer is from 7 to 13 July – which is good news for those not restricted to holidaying outside of term-time – and there are some good deals for families too.

A summer trip to the Greek islands is always a good idea, and Corfu is one of the most affordable this summer.

Jet2 Holidays has a week for two adults and two children on the Ionian island from £1,866, including return flights departing from Manchester on 29 July, checked baggage, transfers, and self-catering accommodation at the three-star Paradise Hotel Apartments in the northeastern tourist town of Sidari.

Alternatively, EasyJet has return flights in July from Liverpool from £148pp for a 24 July departure, and a week for a family of four in a garden room at the Corfu Aquamarine Hotel, in the relaxed coastal town of Nissaki, costs from €915.

Barbati, Agios Gordios, and Paleokastritsa are among Corfu’s best beaches, all with crystal-clear waters, while Unesco-listed Corfu Town has plenty of history to soak up. Young families will enjoy a day at Aqualand water park; tickets cost from €26 for adults, €20 for children under 12, and under-threes go free.

A neo-gothic style villa on Lungomare Falcomata in Reggio Calabria (Photo: Markeliz/Getty Images)

Reggio Calabria, Italy

A Ryanair flight from Stansted to the pretty city of Reggio Calabria in southern Italy will set you back from £61 return (£147 for a departure on 24 July, when most schools have broken up) – and a week at the four-star Hotel Continental costs from €774 for two on a B&B basis.

For families of four, the four-star Casual Life Suite apartments has a two-bedroom unit from £943 for a week, self-catering.

Take a trip along Reggio Calabria’s Lungomare – or boardwalk – to explore the city’s pebble beaches. Meanwhile, the Archaeological Museum is home to significant collections from sites in ancient Magna Graecia. Entry costs from €6 (£5.05); free on the first Sunday of each month.

The latest Holiday Habits report from the Abta travel association shows that August remains the most popular month for foreign travel among Britons, with 23 per cent of older families – those without very young children – tending to holiday then. However, there are affordable trips despite the month’s desirability.

Ibiza isn’t just a haven for clubbers, but a great family destination too, with beautiful coastline and laid-back atmosphere. Family-favourite beaches include the wide and sandy Cala Llonga, with its calm waters, and Cala Bassa, which has turquoise waters and a lively atmosphere.

Read Next

I went on a pilgrimage in Norfolk that lured medieval kings and queens

Flights are available for £55 from Manchester, £57 from Newcastle and £76 from Birmingham, all with Ryanair. A week’s self-catering at Apartamentos Bon Lloc in the quiet, family-friendly town of Santa Eulalia on the east coast starts at £1,291 for two adults and two children.

Expedia, meanwhile, has a package with return EasyJet flights from Gatwick (returning to Luton) and a week’s self-catering Vibra San Marino Aparthotel in western San Antonio Bay, slightly outside the party town, from £491pp.

Among the island’s child-friendly attractions is the Aquarium Cap Blanc. Housed inside a natural cave, it’s perfect for spotting sea creatures native to the Balearics, with entry €5 for adults and €3 for children. Acrobosc is an outdoor adventure park, ideal for thrill-seekers of all ages, with plenty of climbing-based activities. Entry from €15pp.

Faro, Portugal

Faro, in southern Portugal, is the gateway to the popular Algarve region.

Despite the demand, there are flights available from Edinburgh for £77 and from Bournemouth for £94, both with Ryanair. A week at the four-star Mango Apartment in Faro city centre costs £1,155 for two adults and two children in a two-bedroom unit. From the regional capital, it’s easy to explore the Ria Formosa lagoon and its islands.

Alternatively, EasyJet Holidays has a week’s self-catering at the Mirachoro Portimao apartments in the port city of Portimao from £458pp, with return flights from Bristol included.

No visit to the Algarve is complete without a visit to Praia da Rocha, famous for its long, sandy beach, dramatic sandstone cliffs, and buzzy places to eat. Faro itself has cobbled streets and a 13th century cathedral, plus the Municipal Museum, displaying notable prehistoric and medieval artifacts. Entry is €2pp.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The best summer holidays in Europe for less than £500 )

Also on site :

• Global March to Gaza activists report delays, deportations at Cairo Airport
• ‘She lit up the classroom’: First British victims of Air India plane crash named after 241 killed
• What nuclear sites does Iran have and where are they?