Budget Holiday Alternatives for 2022 and Beyond

By Richard Jones

With the cost of living rising and the value of pound falling, are there any places left that offer British holidaymakers value for money?

Research by Holiday Extras has found that most travellers will research destinations to make sure they are getting good value, while almost half plan to swap tried-and-test traditional destinations for cheaper alternatives.

Holiday Extras’ has launched its Holiday Swap Index to help travellers’ money go further.

Taking the exchange rate, flight time and climate into consideration, the index recommends like-for-like locations that will give sunseekers everything they love and get more value out of their next break.

Here we look at some of their swap suggestions.

Instead of the Costa del Sol, try the Turkish Riviera

Chances are that Spain will be more expensive than last time you went. But that’s not the case for holidays to Turkey which are cheaper than they’ve ever been. The resorts along the Turquoise Coast enjoy the same reliable weather, facilities and service as anywhere in the Med. The flights are about an hour longer than Spain, but if you’re staying for a week or two that’s no big deal. In exchange, you’ll get azure blue water flanked by miles of sandy beaches and lonely bays, as well as ancient sites, luxury hotels, sports facilities and lively nightlife.

jet2holidays.com offers seven nights bed and breakfast at the 3-star Eftalia Downtown in the Antalya Area from £557pp. Price is based on two adults sharing, and includes flights from Manchester in May 2023, a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers.

Instead of skiing in the Alps, try Borovets (Bulgaria) or Białka Tatrzańska (Poland)

Skiing is notoriously expensive, especially in the high-end Alpine resorts of France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. If you’re looking for a cheap winter break, you could try Borovets in the Rila Mountains, with its stunning forests, testing red runs and lively apres-ski.

Meanwhile, with Poland also outside the Eurozone and the Zloty still relatively weak against the Pound, prices are lower than in your more popular skiing destination counties. Bialka Tatrzanska is widely regarded as the beginner’s budget resort of choice, and it’s an agreeably short trip from the airport to the slopes.

crystalski.co.uk offers a week’s half-board holiday at the four-star Hotel Lion Borovet from £612 per person (based on two sharing), including flights from Manchester to Sofia and transfers (price based on departure on March 4, 2023).

Instead of the Canaries or Balearics, try Senegal

With TUI’s new route from London to Dakar, holidaymakers can be soaking up Senegal’s sunshine in just five hours – only an extra half hour from Tenerife or Gran Canaria. A hot new destination and one of the safest countries for tourists in west Africa, package holidays to Senegal allow holidaymakers to enjoy the luxuries of their resort, as well as exploring all this interesting country has to offer. Senegal holidays have a vibrant mixture of modern Africa in Dakar, French history in stylish St Louis, village life on the shores of the palm-fringed Senegal River, and abundant wildlife.

firstchoice.co.uk offers seven-nights all-inclusive at Pointe Sarene, Senegal, staying at the 4T Riu Baobab from £926 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing a room with flights departing from London Gatwick on January 2, 2023 and transfers.

Instead of an Italian city break, try Zadar, Croatia

With Croatia not planning to move to the Euro until January 2023, a late trip to Zadar will be cheaper than escaping to Italy. This quieter, lesser-known city (compared to Dubrovnik) is largely free of the cruise ships and crowds that blight much of the Adriatic coast. Just outside Zadar in Petrcane, Kraljevski vineyards produce some of the region’s most prized wine, while the quiet, calm and leafy Ugljan Island is only a 25-minute boat ride away.

loveholidays.com offers seven nights bed and breakfast at the 4 star Hotel Pagus in Zadar, Croatia, from £341pp. Price is based on two adults sharing, and includes easyJet flights from Manchester to Split in May 2023.

Instead of the Algarve, try Morocco

The mild winters in Portugal and its stunning natural beauty are great reasons to book a holiday in the Algarve. But almost exactly as far but half the price is Morocco. For a longish city break, the obvious choice is Marrakesh, where you can swap suncream for spice by staying in a riad in the city centre, heading out to the famous Djemaa el Fna, and relishing in the sights and sounds of the exotic city. Alternatively, you could opt for Agadir, known for its golf courses, wide crescent beach and seaside promenade lined with cafes, restaurants and bars.

tui.co.uk offers seven nights all-inclusive staying at the 4T+ TUI BLUE Riu Tikida Beach from £714 per person. Price based on two adults sharing a room, with flights departing from Manchester on February 24, 2023, and transfers.

Instead of a German city break, try Podgorica

The Montenegran capital – formerly known as Titograd – is remarkably affordable. The main budget airlines fly there, the hotels and Airbnbs are cheap, and eating out and seeing the sights is reasonably priced too. Podgorica has an excellent Christmas market from mid-November onwards and is a very short bus ride or taxi from the amazing Bay of Kotor. Some of the other attractions are Gorica Park, Millenium Bridge and Dajbabe Monastery Place Of Worship. For those more adventurous, the beaches and mountains are only a couple of hours away.

Three nights in Korzo apartmani self-catering studio apartment in Podgorica, Montenegro, from £32 per night. See booking.com for details. ryanair.com flies direct to Podgorica from London Stansted.

Holiday Extras is the UK market leader in holiday extras such as airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers and holiday insurance. Go to: holidayextras.com. For the full Holiday Swap Index, visit: www.holidayextras.com/change-hassle-free.html