If you think that July is too late to book a bargain break for the school summer holidays, think again.
We all know that prices rise the second the children break up from school, but there are cheap summer holidays to be found – some for less than £1,200 for a family of four for a week in the sun. To make it easier, we've done some of the searching for you.
So pack the sunscreen and create a sensational summer for you and your family. The smiles will say it all.
Here's our pick of the best last-minute family holidays for less than £350pp
Family fun in the sun is a sure bet on the popular Canary Island of Tenerife, where the weather never wavers from blue skies and sunshine during the summer months. Cheap holidays to Tenerife are easy to find throughout the year and you can bag a bargain even at the height of the tourist season in August.
From black-sand beaches, traditional restaurants and tropical plantations in the north, in resorts such as Puerto de la Cruz, to party hotspots, golden sands and facilities galore in the south – plus theme parks and volcanic peaks in between – Tenerife is an ideal family destination.
Mile upon mile of honeyed sands lure families to the Algarve, where afternoons are filled with buckets and spades, splash-filled paddles and a snooze in the shade of a parasol (if you're lucky).
And in the evening, when the sun has disappeared over the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants and beach bars in which to unwind, sample some delicious local cuisine, and recount the day's adventures. Praia da Rocha, with its soft sands and golden cliffs, is a good place to look for cheap Algarve holidays this summer.
Apartamentos Castelos da Rocha
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.
Prices from
The Balearic beauty of Majorca is a tempting option for cheap summer breaks, with excellent family hotels, a variety of resorts, and the warm shallow waters of the Med gently tickling tiny toes. Search for Majorca holidays this July and August and you are unlikely to be disappointed.
Even in the livelier resorts of Majorca, such as Magaluf, Santa Ponsa and Palma Nova, families are welcomed and well catered for. Many hotels offer kids clubs and a choice of swimming pools; while a large range of self-catering accommodation options help you to keep control of a tight budget.
OLA Apartamentos Cala d' Or
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.
Prices from
Sun-seeking families have been flocking to the rugged Costa Brava for decades, dipping their toes in the balmy Med and lapping up Spain's tastiest dishes. But what puts the Costa Brava a cut above some of the other holiday bases along the golden coastline of southern Spain is its proximity to Barcelona.
From resorts such as Lloret de Mar and Blanes, you can drive to central Barcelona in just over an hour. That's a lot of amazing architecture, art, culture, beauty and non-stop city energy just a short trip away. That said, if you want to simply soak up the sun in your resort and let the kids play until they flop, that's fine – it's your holiday.
Book a cheap holiday to Corfu this summer and be dazzled by an island of culture and history, sandy beaches and pebbly bays, lively resorts and whisper-quiet villages. Whatever kind of holiday you and your family are dreaming of, there's a place for you on the Greek island of Corfu.
An affordable destination, family holidays to Corfu can be done on a budget. While there are many self-catering accommodation options to choose from, you can also find cheap holidays on a bed-and-breakfast or even half-board basis.
Michelangelo Resort
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.
Prices from
Another fantastic deal proving the affordability of family holidays on Spain's Costa Brava, where easy day trips to Barcelona make for an attractive proposition for football fans, shoppers, diners, lovers of architecture and art, beach bums… well, anyone.
The traditional charms of the Costa Brava blend perfectly with the more modern, more luxurious, more glittering appeal of some of the region's upmarket resorts (think spas, golf courses and designer boutiques). If long days at the beach are all you're after, however, the Costa Brava has a multitude – all long, clean, golden and oh-so inviting.
More laidback than Tenerife, more lunar-like than lush Gran Canaria, the Canary Island of Lanzarote is a popular choice for families who like caramel-coloured beaches, oodles of sunshine, friendly restaurants and just enough water parks and attractions to fill a few days away from the sand.
Volcanic Timanfaya National Park is quite the spectacle, while nearby camel rides also thrill younger holidaymakers. There are water parks in Lanzarote around the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen, plus a zoo/mini water park called Rancho Texas.
Cheap holidays to Majorca don't have to mean sacrificing the things that make family getaways great. Many of the hotels on the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands feature a huge range of facilities and entertainment offerings. Fancy a round of mini golf? You got it. Like to end your evening letting someone else do the entertaining on a stage? Sure thing. Jacuzzis? Check. Children's pools? Yes.
Outside of Majorca's resorts, attractions include the Caves of Drach, Bellver Castle, the scenic train from Soller, Palma's buzzing cityscape, and the chance to drive around the coast, stumbling upon quiet coves of white sands and crystal-clear waters.
With summer days of endless sunshine and one of the most gorgeous beaches on the coast of Bulgaria's Black Sea, Sunny Beach is the star of the holiday scene in this immensely affordable destination. If you're looking for a cheap beach break and hoping to swerve places you've already seen around the Med, Sunny Beach is a great option.
It has family-friendly hotels, a Blue Flag for cleanliness fluttering over the long beach, water sports, boat trips, a water park, and a beach-side funfair. Oh, and holidays in Sunny Beach can be very cheap – you can even find half-board deals for less than £350pp.
Hotel Ivana Palace
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.
Prices from
Please note:
All prices were sourced via TravelSupermarket.com on July 4, 2018. Prices are subject to change and availability. Prices accurate at time of writing but subject to change for travel between July 20 and August 31. All holidays are 7 nights, unless otherwise stated.
Let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll narrow down the best destinations and deals for your holiday!
Inspire meSign up and save on your next holiday
Be a savvy traveller and get top deals to your inbox, expert travel advice and the chance to win holidays