![\"Fishing](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613758_512_GettyImages-2233248215.jpg\")
\n\t\tDespite cost-of-living pressures, travel agents say people are still prioritising holidays (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tDespite cost-of-living pressures, travel agents say people are still prioritising holidays (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
When people think of cheap summer<\/a> package holidays, they usually jump straight to Spain<\/a>, Tenerife<\/a> or the big Greek<\/a> islands.<\/p>\n But some of the best-value destinations in Europe<\/a> right now are places that still feel a little less discovered.<\/p>\n \u2018Families are being much smarter with money this year,\u2019 Sarah Higgs, a British travel consultant, tells Metro.<\/p>\n \u2018People still want sunshine, pools and a proper break away, but they also want to come home without feeling like they need another loan to recover from the spending money.\u2019<\/p>\n The founder of Sarah\u2019s Travel Adventures says she is seeing \u2018far more\u2019 holidaymakers looking outside the \u2018standard\u2019 package hotspots if it means nicer hotels and the chance to stay longer.<\/p>\n For a family-of-four travelling between May and October, these are some of the destinations currently offering the best value when you combine flights and accommodation.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBest of Metro Deals\t\t\t<\/p>\n Get exclusive\u00a0discounts\u00a0with\u00a0Metro Deals<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 save on getaways and spa days.\u00a0Powered by Wowcher<\/p>\n Bannatyne Spa: Spa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco \u2014\u00a0save up to 57%\u00a0off.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n Mystery Escape: Hotel stay with return flights from as low as \u00a392pp \u2014\u00a0save on worldwide holiday packages.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n Beach Retreat (Lanzarote): 4* Lanzarote beach holiday with flights \u2014\u00a0save up to 58%.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Albania<\/p>\n Albania<\/a> has exploded in popularity<\/a> over the past few years, and Sarah lays out why:<\/p>\n The beaches are stunning (especially around Sarand\u00eb and Ksamil), the sea looks like something you\u2019d expect in Greece, and prices are still far lower than mostof its neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n \t\t She adds: \u2018It\u2019s become really popular with families and couples who want somewhere that feels a bit more special than the standard package destinations without the luxury price tag.\u2019<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation in Oxygen Boutique Hotel in Tirana. \u00a3316pp with Tui<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Montenegro<\/p>\n Montenegro<\/a> is becoming one of those destinations<\/a> where people go once and then ask why nobody told them about it sooner.<\/p>\n Just three hours from\u00a0London, this small Balkan country has become increasingly popular with British tourists in recent years, with bookings for UK flights rising by 164% in 2024.<\/p>\n Sarah says that places like Budva and Tivat<\/a> offer beautiful scenery, lovely coastal hotels and that Mediterranean feel people want, but at a much more manageable price than Croatia<\/a> or Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n It feels more relaxed and less overcrowded, she adds, \u2018which families are really valuing now\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t Until recently, one corner of the country had been off-limits to visitors.<\/p>\n Sveti Stefan<\/a>, a small island and luxury resort village, was closed to the public in 2021 amid a long-running legal and political dispute with the Government of Montenegro over beach access for locals.<\/p>\n But after years of uncertainty, a settlement has finally been reached<\/a>. <\/p>\n As a result, the hotel operator on the island, Aman, has announced it will reopen its doors to guests this\u00a0summer. So there\u2019s never been a better time to visit.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation in Boutique Hotel Momentum in Tivat. From \u00a3495pp with easyJet Holidays<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Turkey<\/p>\n Turkey <\/a>is still probably the best-value family holiday on the market right now, according to Sarah and other travel agents we spoke to.<\/p>\n Areas like Dalaman, Antalya and Marmaris are packed with all-inclusive hotels, and the prices are often significantly lower than Spain or Greece for a similar standard.<\/p>\n Sarah says: \u2018For a family of four, you can still realistically find a week away during the school holidays from around \u00a32,200\u2013\u00a33,000 total depending on the airport and hotel.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The biggest difference, though, is the spending money once you arrive. <\/p>\n \u2018Families can eat out, book excursions and enjoy themselves without constantly checking their banking app every five minutes,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation in Mersoy Bellavista Hotel on the Turkish Riviera. \u00a3208pp with Thomas Cook<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. North Macedonia<\/p>\n In Sarah\u2019s opinion, Lake Ohrid<\/a> in North Macedonia <\/a>is one of the most underrated places in Europe.<\/p>\n She says it\u2019s ideal for families wanting beautiful scenery, lovely food and a much slower pace of holiday without huge crowds or inflated tourist prices.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s not the place for massive waterparks and busy nightlife, but for people wanting a relaxed family break, it\u2019s incredible value,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation in Hotel Skopje City Centre. From \u00a3259pp with loveholidays<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. Bulgaria<\/p>\n Bulgaria<\/a> remains one of the cheapest package holiday destinations in Europe.<\/p>\n The Black Sea<\/a> resorts still offer genuinely affordable all-inclusive holidays during the summer holidays, which Sarah notes is getting harder to find elsewhere.<\/p>\n \t\t For families trying to keep costs under control but still wanting guaranteed sunshine and a hotel pool, she says Bulgaria is still one of the strongest options<\/a> around.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation at the Tui Suneo Perla in Sunny Beach. \u00a3362pp with Tui<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. Romania<\/p>\n Romania<\/a> is becoming increasingly popular for travellers wanting a mix of city break<\/a>, culture and beach holiday \u2014 without Western European prices.<\/p>\n Sarah says that while accommodation standards have \u2018improved massively\u2019 over the last few years, prices still haven\u2019t caught up yet.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018This makes it a really interesting option for budget-conscious families,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and six nights accommodation at DeGoya Studios Bucharest Old Town. \u00a3320pp with Tui<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7. Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/p>\n Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> is still under the radar compared to the rest of Europe.<\/p>\n Places like Sarajevo and Mostar offer amazing scenery, brilliant food and far cheaper accommodation than many of Europe\u2019s better-known tourist cities.<\/p>\n Cheapest package deal we could find: flights and seven nights accommodation in ibis Styles Sarajevo. \u00a3465pp with lastminute.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t Sarah says that people are becoming much more open to destinations that feel different and authentic rather than just booking the same resort every year.<\/p>\n \u2018When it comes to booking trends overall, people absolutely still want to travel despite everything happening globally,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n \u2018What I am seeing though is more caution around long-haul travel and destinations involving Middle Eastern stopovers since the Iran conflict escalated. <\/p>\n \u2018European holidays feel simpler, safer and easier to budget for right now, so demand for these destinations is extremely strong.\u2019<\/p>\n From her customers, Sarah says she sees that families are also leaving bookings later, watching prices closely and trying to get the best possible deal before committing.<\/p>\n But despite the cost-of-living pressures, she says people are still prioritising holidays. <\/p>\n \u2018Families want that time together more than ever, they just want to feel like they\u2019re getting proper value for money when they book it.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613758_162_himare-albania-4ee3.jpg\")
\n\t\tGjipe Beach in Albania (Picture: loveholidays)<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613758_671_GettyImages-518907239.jpg\")
\n\t\tSveti Stefan in Montenegro (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Beautiful](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613759_645_GettyImages-2163449827.jpg\")
\n\t\tKaputas Beach in Antalya, Turkey (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Ohrid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613759_166_GettyImages-1950258834.jpg\")
\n\t\tOhrid in North Macedonia (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Charming](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296735602-bc64.jpg\")
\n\t\tSozopol, a charming town on Bulgaria\u2019s Black Sea coast (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Famous](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613759_797_SEI_267341936-30fb.jpg\")
\n\t\tParliament building in Bucharest (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778613760_976_GettyImages-149978917.jpg\")
\n\t\tMostar and the old bridge over the Neretva River in Bosnia (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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